It's about the blokes, our men and women of the Armed Forces. It's about Derek, a rugby player who has lost both his legs, it's about Carl whose jaw is wired up so he has been drinking through a straw. It's about Richard who was handed a mobile phone as he lay on the stretcher so he could say goodbye to his wife. It's about Ben, it's about Steven and Andy and Mark, it's about them all. They are just blokes but they are our blokes; they are our heroes. We want to help our heroes."
This quotation is taken from the Help for Heroes home page. Help for Heroes, often designated Help4Heroes or simply H4H, is a charity that was launched on 1st October, 2007 by Bryn and Emma Parry and some friends. Bryn was an ex-Serviceman still in touch with his old regiment, The Royal Green Jackets (now the Rifles). He had become very concerned at the rising level of casualties returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and the lack of support for them. Following a visit to Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham where casualties are taken for treatment they were so moved by the brave young people they met that they felt they had to do something to help and so H4H was created.A great variety of fundraising events have swelled the coffers, like climbing Kilimanjaro, dog sledding in Norway, cycling round France, cake sales, sponsored head shaving, London Marathon, skydiving, coffee mornings – and many of the participants are military personnel disabled through service in Iraq and Afghanistan.
On Sunday 12th September a concert will take place at Twickenham. The line-up includes Robbie Williams, Tom Jones, Katherine Jenkins, Bruce Forsyth, Jack Dee and many others, all of whom have waived their fees for the performance.
To date H4H has raised over £64m. Some of the young men and women it helps will require assistance for the rest of their lives, having sustained serious injuries that make daily life an ongoing challenge.
You can find out more about H4H here.
Thank you to Denise Nesbitt and the Helping Hands of Her Happy team who Host this entertaining meme. Click here to see more Hs.
It is sad that men and women have to spend the rest of their lives injured or maimed after being sent to Iraq and Afghanistan. Sad also for the wives/husbands/children who lose their loved ones. Here in India too there are casualties in the armed forces by people who target them when they are influenced by the neighboring country.
ReplyDeleteA very good cause. It is the same everywhere. The heroes are forgotte a week after they return and then they have the hard battle to fight for their rights.
ReplyDeleteI have seen that happen. Most people in my family are either serving or have served as officers in the forces.
A great post - a reminder to us all of the great people out there in the thick of it!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much
Denise
ABC Team
You did a good job here for Wednesday H. It sounds like a success before things ever started.
ReplyDeleteThanks for peeking in on my other blog for Ruby Tuesday. You might like to do that for Tuesdays.
I have my microFiction Monday post on the link in my name above. I hope you will peek in on that too.
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Pretty tough to hear and tougher yet to be soldiers who have to live with their injuries the rest of their lives.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great cause! Our heroes are so frequently forgotten/dismissed with people having no idea how much these men and women have sacrificed so that we can have a safer/better world to live in. It's a very sad situation and we could surely use more organizations like this one! Wonderful post for the day, Janice!
ReplyDeleteSylvia
Old soldiers need all the help they can get. A worthy cause an a nice H.
ReplyDeleteVery touching 'H'.
ReplyDeleteThat is really some commendable work being done. Do let your friends know I will remember to spread the word about that their work and really appreciate all that they are doing.
It is mindless, these wars...You always wish you could do something about the soldiers forced to go fight but nothing is ever enough...
Over 30,000 from the US were wounded in Iraq, plus other folks from around the world. Worthy effort.
ReplyDeleteROG, ABC Wednesday team
Amazing amount of money lets hope that lots can be raised on the 12th. Sad to see these brave young people disabled for life.
ReplyDeleteWonderful heartfelt post. (I was happy to see your comment on my blog. I used to comment on yours often in past years, so it's great to have found you again!)
ReplyDeleteWhat a very good initiative (btw I love Robbie Williams amongst the new once) It's so sad to see how these men and women are treated after they come back. Some of them are also psychologically broken for ever.
ReplyDeleteA great cause and a reminder to donate and help wherever and however we can. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHelp for Heroes is a fairly new charity as these things go, isn't it? But it was a favourite of my Uncle Herbert (himself an ex-serviceman) and was the charity chosen for donations instead of flowers at his funeral when he died this year.
ReplyDeleteI think it's disgraceful that charities are left to provide needed resources for the men wounded in action, but since they do, more power to their elbows!
This sounds like a very worthwhile charity.
ReplyDeleteWhat a very worthy cause! Heroes need to be supported and honoured always!
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