Army veteran to ride over 100 miles for women's army charity

Women’s Royal Army Corps veteran Pip Flegel, from Garstang, will embark on her journey on July 17 from Coventry, where she enlisted into the Army in 1971.

Pip, 69, will ride her mobility scooter to Guilford where she trained in the Women’s Royal Army Corps in the city’s former Queen Elizabeth Barracks to raise funds for the charity who she says “made me what I am today”.

Accompanied by her service dog, Ewok, Pip will make the journey in ‘The Pip-ellium Falcon’ - her mobility scooter, with support from a team of ex forces friends: Dawn Hawker and Issy Hamilton-Conboy (also WRAC veterans), Jeff Hawker (Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers veteran) and her carer and Royal Engineers veteran, Frank Spencer.

Pip Flegel and WRAC Association at Manchester 10k (Image: WRAC Association)

Pip fundraises regularly for the WRAC Association and in 2022 she undertook the Greater Manchester Run with fellow members of the WRAC Association, who pushed her across the finish line in her wheelchair. 

She said: “I owe a great deal to the Association. I just want to give back to those who have made such a difference to the lives of me and so many other servicewomen.”

After working as a postwoman for 26 years, Pip retired due to ill health and discovered the WRAC Association via Facebook - which allowed her to reconnect with women she’d served with during her time in the army.

Pip said: “I felt like I was part of a community again - I hadn’t felt like that in a long time.

"The friends I’ve made and the things I’ve experienced with the Association have changed my life for the better.”

Despite struggling with both multiple sclerosis and myasthenia gravis, a rare condition causing muscle weakness, Pip is determined to continue her fundraising efforts for the WRAC Association.

(L-R) Frank, Issy, Pip, Dawn, and Jeff (Image: WRAC Association)

Pip’s carer Frank Spencer, who is also from Garstang, served in the Royal Army of Engineers for nine years and shares his admiration for Pip’s endeavour.

He said: “Pip’s not a quitter - no matter how tough the going gets, she doesn’t give up. Her enthusiasm is so infectious and inspiring.

"I see incredible friendships form between those who didn’t know each other in the Army - but the Association brings people together and creates a real sense of community.”

Dawn Hawker, the North West co-ordinator for the WRAC Association, is supporting Pip every step of the way.

She said: “It’s amazing to see not only someone of Pip’s age completing this challenge, but also someone suffering with both MS and myasthenia gravis.

"It just goes to show how selfless Pip is and what an impact the WRAC Association has had.”

Pip’s journey will begin at the Coventry Transport Museum, from where she will travel through Oxford by the canal, down to Reading, and finally, to Guildford, where she will be received by the Mayor of Guildford, with a celebratory tea to follow at the Guildford Fire Station.

Organisations supporting Pip include Oswaldtwistle-based mobility specialists MillerCare.

Jeff Hawker, who worked with MillerCare for a number of years after his time in the Army, said: “WRAC Association truly do a fantastic job.

"No one is turned away - it doesn’t matter whether they served in the WRAC or another branch.

"Our drive in supporting Pip’s challenge isn’t to take the money out of people’s pockets, it’s to let them know that the WRAC Association is here, and that female veterans are never alone.”

Professional Driver Trainer School, Green Pass Training, is also providing a vehicle and trailer to support Pip’s mission.

Almost £2,000 has been raised so far. You can make a donation via Pip’s Give as you Live page here.

All money raised will go to the WRAC Association to support Pip's fellow female veterans.