Simon Austen from East Sussex has undergone a brand new challenge to sit in as many aeroplane cockpits for Pilgrims Hospices in memory of his Father Derek Austen.
Simon who has sat in over 30 aeroplanes cockpits for Pilgrims Hospices and has raised nearly half his target already. So Far he has sat in planes from a Thomas Cook Boeing B757-300 G-JMAB to a Virgin Atlantic Airbus A340-600 G-VYOU and is not planning to stop there. 
Simon is completing the Sponsored challenge in memory of his father Derek Austen who sadly passed away at Pilgrims Hospices in 2013. Simon said: “It was my father who got me into aviation, he started along time ago when he was a teenager and joined the Air Training Corp during the war with him joining various other groups in later years. This was the inspiration for my challenge.”
Simon also added ” My Father had a keen interest in aviation and in his passenger log book he had over one hundred entries of different aircrafts he had flown in. It occurred to me that I could take him on a journey in spirit with me to see how many aircraft cockpits I could sit in and also to raise as much money as I can at the same time.”
Joshua Thomason Community Fundraising Officer for Pilgrims Hospices said: “This is such a remarkable challenge that Simon is undertaking and I look forward to hearing about the many other aeroplane cockpits that he will be sitting in, thank you so much to Simon and everyone who has supported him so far.”
Each year Pilgrims Hospices gives care and comfort to over 2,300 people coming to terms with an illness which sadly cannot be cured. The charity supports patients to live life as well as possible until the very end; free from pain and distress.
Care is provided from three hospice sites in Ashford, Canterbury and Thanet as well as in patients’ own homes and in the community.
If you would like to track Simon’s progress with his challenge please click here or if you would like to sponsor Simon on his Just Giving page please click here
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