A CHARITY set up in memory of a war hero has donated £3,000 to support members of the Royal Air Force.

Michelle Jurd, 41, from Grange, lost her life in a collision with an articulated lorry at Gilpin Bridge on the A590 in November 2009.

The Michelle Jurd Memorial Trust was founded the following year and has since raised more than £100,000 for good causes.

And this week Mrs Jurd's husband Neil, with daughters Matilda and Elsa, handed over the cash in Kendal to Wing Commander Mark Quinn of the RAF Benevolent Fund.

The charity provides assistance to the RAF family, maintains the memorial in London and supports the wellbeing of serving members.

Coincidentally, Wing Commander Quinn served with Mrs Jurd when she was a serving RAF officer.

"I think people seeing where the money we raise goes is important, as it encourages people to keep supporting us," said Mr Jurd. "To date we have raised over £100,000, every penny of which has gone to charity."

The trust promotes adventurous activities for young people, and also gives money to service charities including the RAFBF, the Gurkha Welfare Trust and the Not Forgotten Association.

Mrs Jurd was a RAF Squadron Leader who flew Puma helicopters. She served in Kosovo, Iraq and Northern Ireland.

She studied Biology at Nottingham University and then gained entry into the RAF College Cranwell where she trained to be an officer and later became the first female officer to qualify as a navigator on Puma aircraft.

Mrs Jurd landed fighting troops deep into enemy areas in Iraq and Kosovo and while in Iraq her Commanding Officer was hugely impressed by her bravery when, in an intense sandstorm, she led an operation deep into enemy territory to recover soldiers likely to be overrun by the enemy.

She also spent two years working as a navigation instructor for young officers learning to fly Puma helicopters.

After the birth of Matilda, she left the Royal Air Force and concentrated on bringing up a young family and in 2008, the family moved to Grange.

Next week Mr Jurd will be presenting a cheque for £2,000 to Allithwaite School to promote adventurous training for the pupils.