A home for James and Sarah

James Faulkner and his wife Sarah celebrated buying their first home together in Lincolnshire in 2017. It was a long journey for James but things are now starting to look bright for him and his family. James explains the struggles he's faced and how the RAF Benevolent Fund has been there to support him...

"There are a few dates that stick firmly in my mind. The date I married my lovely wife. The day our beautiful daughter Eliza was born.The date my life was turned upside down when doctors discovered I had a brain tumour. And 8th January 2017, the day Sarah and I bought our first home together in Lincolnshire.

"The house Sarah, Eliza and I live in was bought originally by the RAF Benevolent Fund after I was medically discharged from the RAF in 2007. The brain tumour meant I couldn’t continue in my career as an RAF policeman and I had no where to live.

"That’s when this amazing charity came along, one I had supported in the past but never thought I would need myself. They bought a house and it was the start of a whole new journey for me.

"I met and married Sarah, had a little girl and began a new career as a ceramist making pottery – and again I was supported by the RAF Benevolent Fund, who helped me buy some equipment which has set me on a path to a career I could not have dreamed of.

"The doctors have told me that the tumour will limit my life and I have around ten years to live. At the moment things are okay but there are days when I'm left with immense fatigue and waves of nausea and dizziness. I take various medication to help me get through the day, including ones to stop feeling sick.

"Looking to the future, we decided the best thing to do would be to buy our house from the Fund, which will mean Sarah and Eliza will always have this home and the security they need.

"In January 2017, all the paperwork went through and it was a good feeling when everything was sorted. I am so grateful to the RAF Benevolent Fund for everything they have done to help me and my family get here. And although we do not need their help at the moment, I know the RAF Benevolent Fund will be there for Sarah and Eliza if they ever need them when I am no longer here."

To find out more on the support provided by the RAF Benevolent Fund please visit its website.

We're supporting the RAF Benevolent Fund and Royal British Legion as our Community Champions until September. To find out how we're raising money you can go to our current champions page.