MORAY’S HARD WORKING fundraising team for the RAF Benevolent Fund have been shortlisted by the service charity for two major awards.

Team Lossiemouth RAFBF have enjoyed phenomenal success since being formed by the wife of one of the airmen serving at the Moray base, Karen Cox.

Karen formed the local fundraising team in 2012 – and they enjoyed almost instant success in raising thousands for the charity while raising its profile in Moray and beyond.

Just a year after the team was formed they were winners of the ‘Fundraising Team of the Year’ by the RAFBF – an honour they were nominated for again last year but just missed out.

However, this year their success has once again been recognised with nominations for the team of the year – while in separate awards the work of RAF Lossiemouth has also been recognised with the Moray base being nominated for Station of the Year.

Other awards for which Lossiemouth has been shortlisted includes the boss of XV Squadron, Jon ‘Lenny’ Nixon, who is up for the ‘Above and Beyond’ award for his efforts in raising £8000 for the fund through participating in the London Marathon.

The winners will be announced at an annual awards ceremony at London’s Victory Services Club on April 14. Air Marshall Chris Nickols, who is controller of the RAFBF, said:

“The RAF Benevolent Fund simply could not carry out the vital work that we do, supporting the RAF Family, without the help of our incredible supporters.

“Each year it gets harder and harder to decide on the winners of these awards and that is a testament to the hard work, dedication and creativity with which our supporters contribute to the Fund and its work.
“Our annual awards ceremony allows the Fund the opportunity to showcase that support and also show our fundraisers how their time and donations make a difference to the lives of our beneficiaries, RAF personnel past and present.”

A delighted Karen Cox said: “I am extremely proud that our team has been shortlisted for Best Fundraising Team again.

“Everyone worked so hard in 2015, raising £14,000 for the RAF Benevolent Fund. As a committee, we love what we do and are always so proud to be representing the RAFBF locally.

“This award is for everyone who has been involved with or volunteered for Team RAFBF Lossiemouth in 2015, so please give yourselves a big pat on the back!”