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Charity for April, May and June 2010
HELP FOR HEROES
For the next three months our Charity will be the famous and very topical one called “Help for Heroes”. It was a popular choice, and one I hope will be very successful. At the time of writing this I have just heard on the 6 o'clock news that our sixth soldier this week has been killed in Afghanistan. These brave young men (no young women this time), gave the ultimate sacrifice, and we all honour them. But what about the wounded? In many cases they too have given their lives to this country, because their lives will never be the same due to their injuries, and their lifelong suffering. This is where Help for Heroes comes into play. We are very fortunate in that Andrew Brady, an ex Charity Committee member, has been able to contact the Help for Heroes (H4H) County Coordinator for Kent, Graham Mentor-Morris, who has sent us the following:
“The call to 'do your bit' for the wounded.
H4H (Help for Heroes) appealed to the nation to 'do your bit' for the wounded by doing something legal, safe and decent to raise money. People from all across the UK responded and the charity took off like a rocket. Prince William and Prince Harry were early supporters and were seen wearing the wristbands as were a number of celebrities lead by Jeremy Clarkson, and there were Christmas appeals in The Sun and The Sunday Times. By 1st June 2008, after returning from the Big Battlefield Bike Ride, £6m had been raised from donations and from the thousands of events people were running on behalf of H4H. Then it got busy! More events were held through the summer and autumn of 2008. The RFU Twickenham Rugby match raised £1.4m, the Hurlingham Ball raised £1.6m and X Factor's 'Hero', shared with TRBL (The Royal British Legion), became the fastest selling charity single of the decade. All across the country people joined in this huge wave of support and currently £41m has been raised in 29 months.
Good Value
Of the £41m raised to date (15 February 2010), over £34m has already been granted and H4H is working with the MOD on the new Individual Recovery plans project that will need millions - so we are not stopping!
The Help for Heroes Trading Company (H4HT), run by Emma Parry, was set up to be a separate business within the group that sells products and then donates the profits to cover all the costs of running the Charity and the Trading Company as well as making a very sizable donation, £2.2m in 2009.
H4H is not in competition with other service charities. As explained above we have funded several with grants and in the case of the Poppy Appeal, (The Royal British Legion), we have shared funds raised at the 007 Premier and the X Factor Single as well as helping bring the poppy to the younger generation.
Both TRBL and the ABF (Army Benevolent Fund) now referred to as the ABF Soldiers Charity, have had record years so we are helping, not hindering their efforts. We have been joined on the new Recovery Capability project by TRBL and ABF.”
H4H (Help for Heroes) appealed to the nation to 'do your bit' for the wounded by doing something legal, safe and decent to raise money. People from all across the UK responded and the charity took off like a rocket. Prince William and Prince Harry were early supporters and were seen wearing the wristbands as were a number of celebrities lead by Jeremy Clarkson, and there were Christmas appeals in The Sun and The Sunday Times. By 1st June 2008, after returning from the Big Battlefield Bike Ride, £6m had been raised from donations and from the thousands of events people were running on behalf of H4H. Then it got busy! More events were held through the summer and autumn of 2008. The RFU Twickenham Rugby match raised £1.4m, the Hurlingham Ball raised £1.6m and X Factor's 'Hero', shared with TRBL (The Royal British Legion), became the fastest selling charity single of the decade. All across the country people joined in this huge wave of support and currently £41m has been raised in 29 months.
Good Value
Of the £41m raised to date (15 February 2010), over £34m has already been granted and H4H is working with the MOD on the new Individual Recovery plans project that will need millions - so we are not stopping!
The Help for Heroes Trading Company (H4HT), run by Emma Parry, was set up to be a separate business within the group that sells products and then donates the profits to cover all the costs of running the Charity and the Trading Company as well as making a very sizable donation, £2.2m in 2009.
H4H is not in competition with other service charities. As explained above we have funded several with grants and in the case of the Poppy Appeal, (The Royal British Legion), we have shared funds raised at the 007 Premier and the X Factor Single as well as helping bring the poppy to the younger generation.
Both TRBL and the ABF (Army Benevolent Fund) now referred to as the ABF Soldiers Charity, have had record years so we are helping, not hindering their efforts. We have been joined on the new Recovery Capability project by TRBL and ABF.”
Wow, as you can see this is one very big organisation now, but obviously very much needed. Staplehurst will certainly be doing its bit! Not only is it the Parish Church's Charity for 3 months, but amazingly it coincides with the Royal British Legion advertising the sponsored walk “Somme To Staplehurst” from 10th - 17th April for Help for Heroes, and with a bit of luck we may be able to have the pleasure of the company of one or more of the team doing the walk, at one of our Charity Sunday Services. So, All Saints, its over to you now. Not only can we help them financially, in our little way, but also by holding them in our prayers, in a big way. Thanking you in anticipation for your kind support.
Janet Powell
Please give generously!
For more information visit the Help for Heroes Web site.
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