In this time of travel bans, a trip around the world sounds very enticing.

So the next best thing must be a virtual challenge to raise funds for the Ferndown-based John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation.

Running until 28 February, participants aim to collectively walk, run, cycle or swim around the world.  The target distance is 40,750 km and as of 8 February with over 250 people signed up, almost 15,000 km has been completed and £12,000 has been raised.

The challenge has been organised by the Air Cadet Junior Leaders who invited past leaders to take part from courses which span over 20 years.  They have been joined by their friends, family, colleagues and many others.  Each individual sets their own personal challenge as well as working as part of a team

The Junior Leaders course is the RAF Air Cadets’ premier leadership course, taking place over several weekends. The course uses fieldcraft as a medium to teach leadership to 17- 19-year-old Air Cadets who gain an ILM and Fieldcraft Instructor qualification throughout the course.

Whilst an Air Cadet, John Thornton completed the Junior Leaders course and was named as the top student. Subsequently, he was invited to become an instructor on the course.

Every course since 2010 has raised money for the JTYAF and to date Junior Leaders have raised £187,000 for the organisation. Over 70 Junior Leaders have benefited from support from the JTYAF including expeditions to Tanzania, Kenya, Nepal and Ghana.

Pete Thornton, chairman of the JTYAF, said, “We are totally overwhelmed by this fantastic support as John would be too, and we can’t thank everyone involved enough. We have an incredibly special partnership with the Junior Leaders Course and this challenge is testament to that. John was respected by all those on the course who knew him, and every penny raised by this challenge will ensure that his legacy lives on, helping young people to achieve their ambitions.”

To find out more or to take part in the challenge visit https://around-the-world-for-jtyaf.raisely.com/