RAF St Mawgan team embarks on 67 mile walk for Cornwall’s Foodbanks

A team from RAF St Mawgan set off this morning on a 67-mile fundraising walk to support and raise awareness of Cornwall’s foodbanks.

The three-day challenge will take them to foodbanks across the Duchy before finishing in Newquay on Thursday. Volunteers from Newquay Foodbank are also taking part.

Recent research by the Trussell Trust found that over a quarter (27%) of adults who have served in the UK’s armed forces have run out of food in the past 12 months and did not have the money to buy more. The trust says this is almost double the rate of those in households where no one has served.

RAF St Mawgan has long supported Newquay Foodbank, regularly taking part in food collections and volunteering. The team saw this walk as an opportunity to deepen that support while collaborating with foodbanks across North Cornwall.

Zoe Nixon, Director of Newquay Foodbank, said:

"We're so grateful for the support of organisations like RAF St Mawgan, who are vital in ensuring that Newquay Foodbank can keep providing crucial support to people experiencing hunger and hardship in our community. Families across Cornwall are deeply affected by the cost of living crisis, and we’re currently experiencing a significant increase in food bank need, with between 700–800 individuals a week coming to us for support. It’s devastating and makes fundraising efforts like this all the more important."

Warrant Officer Kev Riddle, from the base’s Families Support Team, was inspired to take action after volunteering at a foodbank. He said:

"It is so important to us all to be an active part of the community in which we live and serve. We’re proud to support local foodbanks, and this walk is a small step towards making a difference and raising awareness. The unsung heroes are those that have the courage to seek support and, of course, the hundreds of volunteers that give up their time to make sure people do not go without. We thank them all and look forward to delivering some much-needed donations – both of food and funds."

Adding a touch of fun to the challenge, Kev, Carol, and Winnie will be dressed as tins of beans and food items while collecting food and money donations along the route.

For the final stretch from RAF St Mawgan to Newquay Foodbank, station staff and foodbank volunteers will join the walk. Members of the public are invited to take part from 1pm on Thursday 3rd April as the team completes their journey.

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