RAF personnel from Brize Norton are hoping a charity walk will help them bond with their soon-to-be colleagues.

The event is being organised in west Oxfordshire to raise money for charity Help for Heroes.

The walk takes place along the River Thames, between Northmoor and Lechlade, on Saturday, June 4.

Organisers hope to raise as much as they can for the charity, which looks after British servicemen and women injured in conflicts abroad.

The event will also be an excuse for personnel from RAF Lyneham and RAF Brize Norton to get together.

Lyneham will close later this year and staff will move to Brize Norton.

Organiser Tim Jones, who is information systems manager at Lyneham, said: “We thought it would be a good thing to organise.

“We wanted to get people together before Lyneham moves to RAF Brize Norton, and raise money for Help for Heroes at the same time.”

He, and fellow organiser Dave Lewis, came up with the idea after they both suffered injuries at work.

He said: “We were under military rehabilitation alongside some of the guys from Afghanistan, and saw everything from multiple limbs missing to gunshot injuries.

“It was hard to take and it gave us a push to get more involved.”

They are hoping to get 100 people taking part in the walk, which is open to everyone.

Fundraisers can opt for either a seven-, 11- or 16-mile walk along the Thames. The event ends at The Riverside, Lechlade, where there will be live music, a raffle and an auction to raise more funds.

witney@oxfordmail.co.uk * For more details, contact Tim Jones on 07515 685015 or visit events4h4h.org.uk