Wheels in motion for minibus bid

Members of Droitwich Spa Lions together with some of the cadets and their old minibus. (s)

AN AMBITIOUS campaign to raise £10,000 for a new minibus has been launched by members of the Droitwich squadron of the Air Cadets Corps.

The thriving and popular town group hope residents and local businesses will dig deep to help them reach the total to replace their current vehicle which is showing the strain after 10 years on the road.

Members are reliant on the vehicle to travel around the country to various shows and events and a new minibus will enable the cadets to continue their rich run of success which has seen them win a variety of competitions.

As well as celebrating their 40th anniversary in 2011, the past two years has seen the squadron scoop eight trophies in one competition and crowned National Drill Champions at RAF Halton.

The talented teenagers beat off competition from the best squadrons across the United Kingdom to be ranked number one in the country as the prestigious event held last year.

The unit was formed in 1971 and is a regular fixture at all of the town's events such as the Remembrance Sunday parade towards Victoria Square.

High maintenance costs for their current vehicle have forced the group to take action and ensure members can continue to fly high in the years to come.

The squadron’s civilian committee, chaired by Lisa Handley, is aiming to raise £10,000 to pay for a refurbished vehicle and the group have also organised a number of fund-raising events to help them reach the target by the end of the year.

And the fund-raising effort has been given a huge boost with cash from Droitwich Lions Club after welfare chairman Dave Jepson heard about the cadets' efforts.

Paul Wilde, the officer commanding the Droitwich squadron, said: "We have a very healthy membership of more than 35 young people drawn from the Droitwich and Bromsgrove areas and our minibus is vital in getting members to functions, camps and

other activities.

"We appreciate the interest which the Droitwich Lions have taken in us and hope that this will encourage other organisations to support us," he added.

E-mail 2516@aircadets.org for more information on the fund-raising scheme and on the work of Droitwich Air Cadets.

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