THE Royal Air Force's Association, RAFA, provides friendship and welfare support for all serving and retired RAF personnel and their dependants, as well as those who have served in the Air Forces of the Commonwealth.

More and more we are now being called upon to assist those currently serving in the RAF who have experienced adversity, either themselves or in their immediate family. There is also an increasing need for help among those having to leave the Service early as the size of the RAF is further reduced.

I am writing to ask your readers to support the RAF Association, a registered charity, particularly during the two weeks of September 7-19, when our members and supporters will be making house-to-house and street collections to raise money for our welfare work.

Last year we raised £3.6 million, mainly as a result of donations from members of the public but we spent nearly £1,200,000 more than we raised to improve our welfare services. This year we MUST increase our fundraising if we are to continue to meet the growing demand for our services.

I appeal to your readers to join us in rising to this challenge - please be generous. Thank you.

SIR MICHAEL STEAR

Air Chief Marshal, President RAFA, Freepost (WR 60), Portland Road, Malvern, Worcestershire

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.