A Hopeman woman is looking to mark the end of her 27 years service in the RAF this year with a bang – and raise funds for the charity that has provided expert care for her father.
Helen Wood, 46, is a Squadron Leader currently based at RAF Waddington and splits her time between the Lincolnshire base and the family home in Moray.
Helen retires from the service this summer – but before she does that the keen sportswoman has been training for a take on a 1000k walk to aid funding for Parkinson’s UK.
The fundraising effort has been prompted by her 71-year-old father Eric, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s five years ago. Helen said: “My dad receives a lot of expert help and care from a specialist Parkinson’s nurse and the doctors have been fantastic.
“I hope the funds I raise will make a real difference to the lives of those living with Parkinson’s.”
In addition to the walk Helen will take on a 10km run next month alongside ten of her RAF colleagues – and will follow that with a walk to the summit 18,510-foot summit of Mount Elbrus in Russia.
Joining her in the challenges will be colleague Joanna Flear, whose father died four years ago as a result of Parkinson’s.
Anyone wishing to sponsor Helen’s efforts is being invited to visit http://www.justgiving.com/helen-wood12.