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Thales proud to support the RAF Benevolent Fund Brompton Challenge

Thales UK is proud to be sponsoring the Royal Air Force’s leading welfare charity in its launch of a unique bicycling challenge to mark the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain and to help continue its support of past and present members of the RAF family.

The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund is organising a 75th Anniversary Brompton Bicycle Challenge in September 2015 to remember both the incredible bravery and sacrifice of those who fought in the Battle, and to raise £75,000 for the Fund.

The challenge will involve a minimum of 75 cyclists (one for each year since the Battle) cycling on Brompton folding bicycles from Paris to London between 8-12 September, each raising £1,000 for the Fund in the process.

From 10 July to 31 September 1940, aircrew from the RAF fought a daily aerial battle against the Nazi Luftwaffe bombers as they attempted to secure the skies over Britain as a prelude to a full Nazi invasion. Although vastly outnumbered, the RAF fought relentlessly against the Luftwaffe, helped by the new technology of radar which helped track the incoming waves of aircraft.

On 15 September, the Luftwaffe embarked on their largest bombing attack yet, forcing engagement of the entirety of the RAF in defence of London and the South East, resulting in a decisive British victory that proved to mark a turning point in Britain’s favour. This prompted Winston Churchill to famously declare ‘Never in the field of human conflict, was so much owed by so many, to so few.’

The RAF Benevolent Fund was formed in 1919 and is the RAF’s leading welfare charity, providing financial, practical and emotional support to members of the RAF family in their time of need. Be that a child living on an RAF station through the Airplay youth worker scheme, support for an RAF widow who has lost her partner in action in Afghanistan or ensuring older veterans can live an independent life in their later years.

Each cyclist will ride a Brompton Bicycle, the fold away bicycles favoured by commuters, either on their own Brompton Bicycle or one supplied to them for the duration of the challenge. To assist in offsetting the costs of the challenge, Thales UK has generously agreed to be the headline sponsor for this quirky, not-to-be-missed event.

If you would like to support the RAF Benevolent Fund and sponsor Tim as he takes on the Battle of Britain 75th Anniversary Brompton Bicycle Challenge, please visit his JustGiving page

About Thales
Thales is a global technology leader for the Aerospace, Transport, Defence and Security markets. With 61,000 employees in 56 countries, Thales reported sales of €13 billion in 2014. With over 20,000 engineers and researchers, Thales has a unique capability to design and deploy equipment, systems and services to meet the most complex security requirements. Its unique international footprint allows it to work closely with its customers all over the world.
Contact
UK Press Contact Naval Adrian Rondel
+44 7971 414052 adrian.rondel@uk.thalesgroup.com