Perth cadets set for charity tour

Oct 29 2010 by Denis Brown, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

A SAVVY squad of Perth air cadets are undertaking a patriotic two-wheeled tour of duty for armed forces charity, Help for Heroes.

The four teenagers are saddling up to cycle a 70-mile route around nine Perthshire war memorials and hope to raise at least £1500 for Help for Heroes.

Ringleader Ryan Dickson, a Perth High School pupil who is enlisting in the Royal Navy with a view to becoming a pilot, said the fundraising mission had been dreamt up during summer.

He and his three mates – Niall Swinnerton, James Williamson and Alex Green – are all 17-year-old air cadets with 38 F Perth.

“Me and Alex had a big buzz about doing something for charity earlier this year, and I’m going into the armed forces, as are James and Niall,” he explained.

“Goodness knows what Alex wants to do; he’s got about 100 different options at the moment!

“But if we all end up going to war, whether it’s Afghanistan or wherever, we’d want to know that there’s help for us back home if we get injured, so Help for Heroes was the obvious charity for us to support.”

He said he and his comrades hoped to follow in the footsteps of other former Perth cadets, two of whom were now RAF ground crew personnel and another an army policeman.

“I’ve applied to the navy and am now just waiting to take my medical,” he said.

“My dad, Bob, is ex-navy, so he’s happy about me enlisting.”

His mum, Suzanne Dickson, said Ryan and his cadet pals had put their heart and souls into the fundraising exercise, which would also be viewed upon favourably by armed forces recruitment officers.

“Bob and I are happy for Ryan to join either the navy or RAF as he has a big interest in flying and has already completed a gliding scholarship,” she said.

“We support him 100 per cent.”

On Saturday next week, the four pals pedal off from an Aberfeldy war memorial, then touch base at others in Crieff, Methven, Bankfoot, Birnam, Caputh, Stanley and Luncarty, before winding up at Balhousie Castle.

So far, their collective fundraising effort is way short of the £1500 target and Ryan said any donations from PA readers, no matter how small, would be greatly appreciated.

l Give generously at: www.bmycharity.com/V2/ryantourofthefallen