My name is Oluwaseun Ibitoye, I am a member of the Royal Air Force Air Cadets- Warwickshire and Birmingham Wing. I am currently a student on the Air cadet Junior Leaders 17 Course. As part of the course all students are required to raise funds and awareness for the John Thornton young Achievers Foundation as the Junior leaders course is one of the 16 organisations that is greatly supported by the Charity through funding and scholarships.

I plan to meet this request by carrying out multiple fundraising events with the Coast to Coast Cycle being my main event. In addition I plan to do sponsored sleep outs and Bag packs.

The John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation (JTYAF) honours the life of Lt John ‘JT’ Thornton RM, from Ferndown, Dorset, who was tragically killed in southern Afghanistan on 30th March 2008.

At the age of 22 John had achieved a great amount such as climbing the Kilimanjaro. As an ex-Air cadet John achieved his Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, a parachute course at Weston-on-the Green, an RAF Marksman qualification and took part in the Nijmegen Marches on two occasions.

John also took part in the Air cadet Junior Leaders Course where he was awarded the Best student, this achievement was recognised by a memorable flight with the Red Arrows at RAF Scampton. 

John lived his dream and died doing the job he loved. The aim of the John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation is to encourage and assist young people to ‘climb as high as they can dream.’ Whatever their dream, we hope to help them achieve it.

For more information on the charity visit www.jtyaf.org