Help for Heroes Events

I joined Help for Heroes in November 2007, very soon after its inception. I was originally a fundraiser – in the process of organising a Land's End to John O’Groats cycle ride and wanted to raise some funds for this brand new charity. The National Fundraising Co-ordinator phoned and thanked me and my team for our offer and then spun it around and asked me to join the team as the Buckinghamshire County Co-ordinator. As a serving member of the Royal Air Force I have seen first hand the impact of operations around the globe on the men and women of our Armed Forces – naturally I jumped at the chance!

To be involved with a charity that was seeking to do something incredible was too much of a challenge to resist. Since those early days we have all seen the charity go from strength to strength. Every day I am amazed by the lengths and craziness that people are willing to go to in order to help support Help for Heroes. It is incredibly humbling as a Serviceman to see the Great British public getting behind our wounded.

Every event that I go to, whether it be speaking at a Women’s Institute coffee morning or school assembly or manning a stall kindly donated at a county show, motoring event or air show, I am astounded by the generosity, compassion and support from all walks of life. From the young through to the very old, all members of the community see Help for Heroes as being incredibly important and worthwhile.

The team in Bucks, although small, have achieved some amazing things. Time is very precious to everyone, but I find that people freely give up their time (and money!) to support Help for Heroes in whatever they do. Some people that are worthy of mention and thanks are Naomi Liles who has been boundless in her efforts to raise the profile of Help for Heroes and been involved in a many events. Kevin Pell and his team at Ishin-Run Ju-Jitsu have been incredible, their energy and capacity to take on numerous challenges in order to raise funds has been amazing.

As a County Co-ordinator I would not be able to achieve very much without the support and assistance of the team in Tidworth and Downton, together with our amazing National Co-ordinator Belinda with her fabulous assistant Claire. A huge thank you to them and also to all of our supporters, without you we would be lost.

Regardless how we raise funds whether it is rattling tins or organising huge balls, it is the guys who are wounded in the service of our country that make it all worthwhile. Help for Heroes makes a tangible difference to the quality of these Servicemen’s lives – it is amazing.