A team from the Royal Air Force, based at RAF St Mawgan, are set to lead a three-day charity walk across Cornwall in Tuesday, April 1.

The walk, which is being undertaken by the RAF station’s People and Families Support Team, is 67 miles and is aiming to raise vital funds and awareness for local food banks struggling to meet rising demand.

Starting at their station, the team will visit food banks at Wadebridge, Padstow, Liskeard, Bodmin, St Austell and Newquay, finishing at Newquay Foodbank on Thursday, April 3.

Veterans in families with children are disproportionately impacted by hardship, which means supporting the vital work of food banks was a subject close to the team at RAF St Mawgan’s heart.

Research by The Trussell Trust recently found that over a quarter (27 per cent) of adults who have served in the UK’s armed forces have run out of food in the last 12 months, and they did not have money to buy more. Alarmingly, this is almost twice the number of people living in households where nobody has ever served in the UK armed forces (14 per cent).

RAF St Mawgan have long been supporters of Newquay Foodbank, taking part in food collections and volunteering with the charity and were keen for an opportunity to further deepen that support, collaborating with a number of food banks 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.”

Kev Riddle, Warrant Officer at RAF St Mawgan, 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 food banks, and this walk is a small step

“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.”

Trip schedule:

People can donate to the fundraiser via the teams Just Giving page, as well as food donations being accepted along the route, with donations being dropped off at each food bank they visit along the route.

For more information about the walk, how to donate and the route, visit here.