PERSONNEL from Commando Helicopter Force and RAF Benson cycled 115 miles to raise funds for three charities after a colleague got cancer.

CHF’s Lieutenant Commander Sean Dufosee – known to his colleagues as Duffers – is based at RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset and was sent home from Afghanistan in April last year, after he was found to be suffering from multiple myeloma, a rare form of cancer.

The ride from Benson to Yeovilton left at 7am on June 12 and was completed in nine hours by about 40 Royal Navy and Royal Air Force personnel, engineers, support staff and aircrew, currently serving at both bases.

RAF Benson spokesman Nikki Hamilton said £5,000 was raised, beating the target of £3,000.

CHF’s Warrant Officer 1 Tel Bastyan said: “To date Duffers, has undergone aggressive chemotherapy, and is about to embark on a stem cell transplant.

“As a way of showing our support to him as a friend and work colleague, we decided to undertake the ride, a total distance of around 115 miles.”

The money will be donated to national armed forces charity SSAFA, Myeloma UK and RCDM, military wing of Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.

  • To donate see uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ team/Ben-VL115