King’s Lynn veteran takes on Dambusters Ride to raise money for the RAF Benevolent Fund
A retired veteran from Lynn has taken on the Dambusters Ride to raise money for the RAF Benevolent Fund.
Graham Copsey, 72, planned a virtual run, alongside his wife Chris, 71, in the run up to the challenge.
They ran 80 miles in 80 days to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Dambusters Raid.
Kicking off the first mile at RAF Scampton, they completed the final stretch at the RAF base at Marham.
As a cadet-entry RAF engineer officer, Graham didn’t see himself having to leave the Royal Air Force until he became the victim of an unfortunate motorbike incident during a ride into Cranwell.
The accident resulted in injury to the nerves in his spinal column.
These injuries left him in need of intensive plastic surgery.
This involved the removal of a portion of his calf to replace parts of his then missing foot.
The RAF Benevolent Fund was available to help the couple following the unexpected accident.
Taking the 80 theme one step further, Graham invited 80 friends, family and anyone to support him in the challenge by either running, walking, cycling or swimming just one mile on one day during the period of the challenge and he has raised a total of £1,011 for the fund so far.
Graham said: “After my motorcycle crash in 1987, the RAF Benevolent Fund provided some much-needed support to my family whilst I was recovering in hospital.
“It so happens that the distance from RAF Scampton, where 617 Squadron was formed and RAF Marham, where they are now based, is just about 80 miles apart.
“I wanted to pursue this challenge in 80 days and give back to the fund that helped us when we needed it most.”
The Dambusters Ride pays tribute to members of the RAF's 617 Squadron who bombed three dams in Germany's Ruhr Valley on the night of 16-17 May 1943.