Brendan Gillan, a 20-year-old student from Livingston, has completed the Tough Mudder challenge at Broughton Hall in Skipton, raising over £300 for the RAF Benevolent Fund.
Inspired by family support
Gillan, who plans to join the RAF after graduating from university, was motivated by the assistance his family received from the charity after his father's career-ending injury.
He said: “The run was fantastic and I seriously surprised myself with my own capabilities. I thoroughly enjoyed the team spirit and camaraderie shared with all participants.
“I honestly have never felt more awake and alive than the ice plunge. The combination of sneaky ice cubes dropped on my top by an event volunteer and the completely unexpected depth of the ice pool made a cold shower feel like a bubble bath in comparison.”
Military family background
Gillan comes from a military family, with relatives having served in different branches of the Armed Forces. His father, Chris Gillan, served in the RAF for nine years before an injury ended his career.
“My family received support from the RAF Benevolent Fund after my dad’s RAF career ended because of a service-related injury. During that time, our family home was flooded, and the Fund’s support made a real difference.
“Having seen first-hand the difference that support can make, I wanted to give something back by raising money to help them continue supporting other RAF families.”
Fundraising effort
He added: “Tough Mudder seemed like the perfect event to test myself physically while supporting an amazing charity. I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported me with this challenge.”
The RAF Benevolent Fund, which has been supporting the RAF Family for 107 years, provides financial, emotional and practical assistance to serving and former RAF personnel and their families, from welfare breaks and grants to mental health support and youth programmes.
