AN East End train driver is nearing his final stop in a marathon charity challenge. 

Baillieston man John Patrick has gone full steam ahead in his bid to coin in cash for the RAF Benevolent Fund. 

The 49-year-old chose to mark his upcoming 50th birthday by taking on the Half Century Challenge, which has seen him complete 50 different exercise repetitions per day for a month. 

A former airman, who served from 1988 until 1997, he wanted to raise money for the RAF’s leading welfare charity because he “knows how important its work is”. 

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He said: “With the big 5-0 approaching, I wanted people to contribute to the RAF Benevolent Fund instead of buying gifts. 

“As a former Airman who served from 1988–1997 and with the Auxiliaries for 3 years, I know just how important the Fund’s work is.”

John began his daunting task on August 16 and is due to finish tomorrow.  He has been encouraging people to visit his fundraising page and suggest an exercise to challenge him daily. 

This has included 50 star jumps, 50 press ups, and a 50-second hold of the splits, 50 squat thrusts, and more. Such has been his success, he not only smashed his initial target of £500, but quickly broke through the £1000 mark. 

The fund provides financial, practical and emotional support to all members of the RAF family whether they are serving or former members. 

They help members of the RAF family deal with a wide range of issues: from childcare and relationship difficulties to injury and disability, and from financial hardship and debt to illness and bereavement.

Michelle Jeffcott, regional fundraiser for the RAF Benevolent Fund, said: “Thank you so much to John for his support. By taking on this challenge he is helping our RAF veterans and serving RAF personnel as well as their families.

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“Last year we spent £28 million supporting the RAF Family in need and simply couldn’t do that without the kind and generous support from people like John.”

Support John here.

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