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Jacqui Thompson
Jacqui Thompson, the widow of an RAF Regiment Gunner killed in Afghanistan, successfully scaled Mount Kilimanjaro to raise money for the RAF Benevolent Fund. Jacqui, 43, from Sherwood, Nottingham, took on the challenge to honour the memory of her husband, SAC Gary Thompson, and to raise awareness of the RAF’s leading welfare charity.
Gary was a reservist in the RAF Regiment, and was deployed to Afghanistan in February 2008. On April 13th he was killed, aged 51, when his patrol vehicle hit a roadside bomb. He left behind his wife Jacqui and five daughters. The RAF Benevolent Fund provided the family with a grant to help them through this incredibly difficult period, and also offered help with the cost of Jacqui’s daughter’s university education.
Jacqui was reluctant to accept the assistance at first, but decided to take it and “put something back” at a later date. When Gary’s cousin suggested Jacqui should join her in a climb of Mount Kilimanjaro, she jumped at the opportunity.
Jacqui said:
“Normally I would never do anything like this, being more the sort of person who likes to be comfy at home. But I saw this challenge as a chance to let airmen and women in Afghanistan know that in times of trouble their families have a safety net in the RAF Benevolent Fund, and you can’t put a price on the peace of mind that gives you.”
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