'This is for my mummy': Seven-year-old 'Jacob the Pilot' scoops charity award

A young fundraiser has been named a winner in the RAF Benevolent Fund's annual awards.

Seven-year-old Jacob Newson – known as 'Jacob the Pilot' – won an award in the Above and Beyond category after raising £43,000 for the RAF Benevolent Fund.

The annual awards ceremony was held to celebrate the outstanding contributions of fundraisers, volunteers and partners who support the charity.

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Jacob began his fundraising efforts back in 2019 when he and dad Andy climbed Pen-y-Ghent in the Yorkshire Dales.

The 'Jacob the Pilot' Twitter account posted: "This is for all the Likes, Retweets, Comments and Donations from all of you in #TeamJacob but most of all this is for my mummy," in reference to the seven-year-old's mother, who died shortly after Christmas 2020.

Commandant of the RAF Air Cadets, Air Commodore Tony Keeling, got a quick selfie with Jacob and tweeted: "Many congratulations to Jacob 'the Pilot' (and his very proud dad) from everyone in the @aircadets for going Above & Beyond in support of the RAFBF – great to meet you at the #RAFBFAwards."

Jacob and his father Andy were inspired to fundraise after the Red Arrows surprised the wannabe pilot at the Royal International Air Tattoo in 2019.

The following year, in 2020, Jacob and his dad walked 30 miles in two days from RAF Manston in Ramsgate to the Battle of Britain Memorial in Folkestone.

The RAF Benevolent Fund is the RAF's leading welfare charity, providing practical, financial, and emotional support to RAF personnel, veterans, and their partners and dependants.