Our supporters really are some of the most resilient, determined and creative people. To mark our thanks for all they do to raise money for the Army family in need, we’re sharing some of our favourite stories from this summer.
Senior reservist becomes one of only 3000 people to swim the English Channel
Jon Penhale, Assistant Commander, Joint Military Command South West, battled sunburn and jellyfish stings on one of the hottest days of the year to swim 53.1km across the Channel, raising money for the ABF.
Having completed the Channel swim in 2023 as part of an Army team, Jon was encouraged to do a solo swim. He committed to the challenge in 2025 and has been training for this moment since then.
Jon served for 30 years, originally commissioned into the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment in 1997. After retiring from regular service in 2012, he joined the Reserves, and is currently based in the South West.
About his support for the Army Benevolent Fund, Jon said:
“It felt like the right thing to do to raise funds for the Army’s national charity, a charity I know well and have supported before.”
Completing the swim in 15 hours and 8 minutes, Jon added:
“It was without doubt the single most challenging thing I have ever done. It stretched and tested me mentally and physically, taking me to places I didn’t know existed in terms of determination and resilience. At no point did I ever consider stopping, it was just a matter of how long it was going to take me to get to France.”
You can donate to Jon’s fundraiser here: Cross channel swim – GiveWheel
Members of the Middlesex County Committee take on 80km walk for 3rd year in a row
Middlesex Committee Chair, Diana, has been a supporter of the ABF since 1973, when she joined the Hillingdon Branch Committee as Secretary. She has been Chair of the Middlesex Committee since 2009.
During the pandemic, in the absence of usual activities such as fetes and social evenings, Diana had the idea of an 80-mile trek to fundraise for the ABF. In 2024, the first walk commenced, celebrating both the ABF’s and Diana’s 80th birthday.
Joined by Middlesex County’s Secretary, Sandy, the pair have made this an annual event, completing 80km across 8 days most recently, in what they’re calling their ‘hat-trek’.
The challenge saw Diana and Sandy, joined by family and friends, walking along the rivers that cover the County of Middlesex, including the River Lea, the Thames, and the Frays River.
About this year’s event and supporting the ABF, Diana said:
“Having learned of the work of the charity, I became a firm believer in its intentions and the need for its existence. The most memorable thing (about the walks) has been the terrain, the hills, the number of woodlands, and the number and size of the parks. This year the most challenging thing has also been the weather. Sandy and I have started all walks earlier than planned, even though it meant travelling in rush hour and standing on a packed underground.”
Serving soldiers raise £3,180 doing 12-hour static cycle
On Saturday 18th July, soldiers from the 39 Engineer Regiment took part in a 12-hour static cycle at a local Tesco in Elgin, Scotland.
The event saw members of the Regiment‘s Quartermaster Department G4 team engaging with shoppers and members of the local community, raising funds for and awareness of the Army Benevolent Fund.
The team was led by Staff Sergeant Mamat Saine, who said:
“We are incredibly grateful for the generosity shown by the people of Elgin and Moray. We are proud to be part of such a supportive community and thank everyone who contributed to raising £3,180 for the Army Benevolent Fund.”
British Forces Brunei soldiers take part in 24-hour swimathon in support of the ABF
Members of the British Forces Brunei (BFB) community took part in an annual swimathon in July, which saw serving soldiers and civilians swim continuously for 24 hours.
For the second year in a row, BFB volunteers participated in the event, raising funds that will be split across both the Army Benevolent Fund and Pusat Ehsan, a Brunei-based charity that supports individuals with special needs.