CADETS HELP FIGHT CANCER

By CADET CPL HENRY WISDOM

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Cadets from 1066 (Hitchin) squadron turned out in force to raise money for the squadron and Somerfield’s chosen charity of the year, Macmillan Cancer Support.

This is the time of year when Hitchin squadron descends upon the local supermarkets for organised bag-packs, which provides the squadron with essential funds.

In the last week, 1066 Squadron has carried out three days of bag-packing at the small Somerfield store in Shefford. Two days were for squadron funds and one day was for Macmillan Cancer Support. The hard work by the cadets has enabled them to raise over £800 for the squadron.

The cadets took the opportunity of giving back to the community by organising a one day bag-pack in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support group on Saturday 29 November. Macmillan Cancer Support is one of the UK's biggest cancer charities. It focuses on helping people with cancer and their friends and families - because cancer is an illness that affects a lot of people in a variety of ways - physically, emotionally, and even financially. The cadets’ £500 contribution to the charity will be gratefully accepted.

Deirdre Wisdom, Chairperson to the Squadron’s Civilian Committee said: "The money raised for the squadron will help us hugely. Even though a lot of the cadet activities are subsidised, the running and maintenance of their minibus, utilities and band equipment are not."

Cadet Sgt Benjamin Reed added: "Everyone who attended has put in a great deal of effort and as result, we manged to receive lots of donations which will benefit the squadron greatly. Plus we as a squadron get a good reputation locally which promotes us and the Air Cadets as a whole."

With more bag packs planned in the near future at Waitrose and Sainsbury’s, 1066’s work is nowhere near over.