Graham Copsey, RAF veteran, completes Dambusters challenege

Graham Copsey, who feared he may never walk again after that fateful day in 1987, amazed everyone with his recovery from the pioneering surgery. 

Now, the former Royal Air Force (RAF) engineer officer has completed a special anniversary challenge in support of the organisation that helped him. 

The annual Dambusters Ride pays tribute to the Dambusters, all of whom were members of the RAF's 617 Squadron who were assembled to bomb three dams in Germany's Ruhr Valley in May 1943. 

Also known as Operation Chastise, this year marks 80 years since the raid in which a revolutionary bomb was dropped at low level on Germany’s industrial heartland in the Ruhr Valley.  

The mission was a success, but the cost was high. Of 133 aircrew who left, 53 were killed and three became prisoners of war. 

READ MORE: One of Norfolk's last surviving D-Day veterans dies age 97

Supporting the cause, which raises money for the charity RAF Benevolent Fund, Mr Copsey, of King's Lynn, ran 80 miles - the distance between RAF Scampton and RAF Marham - in 80 days. 

He said: “After my crash, the RAF Benevolent Fund provided some much-needed support to my family while I was recovering in hospital.   

“I wanted to pursue this challenge and give back to the fund that helped us when we needed it most.”  

Mr Copsey’s accident resulted in injury to the nerves located in his spinal column, leaving him in need of intensive plastic surgery. This involved removing a portion of his calf to replace parts of his then missing foot. 

Mr Copsey’s wife, Chris, 71, also took part in the challenge and family and friends joined them running across the finishing line at the RAF base in Marham.   

So far, he has raised £1,051.    

• Visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/graham-copsey1 to donate.