Inca Trail fundraising for RAF chef

A Royal Air Force chef has trekked the Inca Trail in aid of the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund, the charity reports. Along with a team of twelve others, Richy Hartley trekked for nine days.

Currently an RAF Coningsby chef, Richy has previously worked in Afghanistan where he produced up to 800 lunches daily for men and women serving their country.

He set out on his Inca Trail trip on April 26th this year, and the journey involved a climb of 4,200 to Machu Picchu – the equivalent of half of Mount Everest.

"Having worked for the RAF for ten years, I've seen first hand how the RAF Benevolent Fund is there to support servicemen and women and their families. This was an experience of a lifetime and I’m so glad it can help others in need too," the chef has said.

He has explained that the ascent was quite a challenge because the team had to climb steadily further and further up and adjust to changing altitude.

But getting to Machu Picchu with the knowledge that he'd raised more than £600 for the Fund made the hard effort worthwhile, he has explained.

The charity's director of fundraising Mike Neville has explained what Richy's funds could potentially help with.

It can provide a year of Airplay youth services helping two young people or over a year of top-up fees for a care home, letting a veteran stay at the care home they wish to, he said.

"Few people realise the extent of the work the RAF Benevolent Fund does. Each year we spend more than £18 million supporting over 60,000 members of the RAF family, which includes serving and former RAF personnel and their families," he explained.  

Other important charities linked to the services include the likes of Combat Stress and Help for Heroes, which work with British soldiers and other people with links to the armed forces.

[Image: Thinkstock]