Mayoral fund raising takes to the skies on Friday morning as part of the preparations for this year’s Sunderland Airshow www.sunderlandinternationalairshow.co.uk
Every year the four strong Blades display team and The Bronco military reconnaissance aircraft, fly from Newcastle Airport for rehearsals of their displays and an early aerial recce of the Sunderland’s award winning seafront.
Joining their invited passengers this year will be the Deputy Leader of Sunderland City Council and Armed Forces Champion, Councillor Michael Mordey, who is flying to raise money for and raise the profile of the Mayoral Charities.
Councillor Mordey said: “I must admit I am a little nervous, I’ve never done anything like this in my life but when the Mayor asked me to consider doing this to support the Mayoral charities I was determined to do what I could to help.
“I hope people will support me to help the charities concerned who will also be collecting during the airshow, safely back on the ground.
” As Deputy Leader of the council and Armed Forces Champion for the city I’m proud to have this opportunity to fly with The Blades, and experience even for a brief time the physical and mental challenges faced by our RAF pilots and flying crews on a daily basis.”
The Mayoral Charities this year are the Sunderland and North Durham Society for the Blind, Sunderland based charity ‘Hope Spring’ who work with vulnerable young people in the community, and the local NSPCC Childline Service.
The Mayor of Sunderland, Councillor Lynda Scanlan, said: “I’m very grateful that the Deputy Leader has agreed to do this, I know he’s a nervous flyer so this will be quite a challenge for him.
“Hopefully it will help us not only to raise money, but also to literally raise the profile of my charities, and the marvellous work that they and the whole of the voluntary sector do here in Sunderland.”