The charity Help for Heroes was launched in October 2007 in response
to the desire of ordinary people to do something practical to help our
wounded servicemen and women. As individuals we are powerless to
prevent war and we feel helpless that we are unable to stop our men
and women from being killed and wounded. By joining together as Help
for Heroes, we are doing something practical to help; we are doing our
bit.
Help for Heroes is very simple; we are strictly non political, we
recognize that wars happen under any government, and we are non
critical, preferring to get on with the job rather than talking about
rights and wrongs.
Our first task, given to us by General Sir Richard Dannatt, the
Head of the Army, was to raise £6 million to help provide a swimming
pool and gym complex at the tri service rehabilitation centre at
Headley Court. With the support of Royalty, The Armed Forces,
Celebrities, the Press and thousands of ordinary, decent people, we
achieved that target in our first eight months.
Our first task may be complete, but our job is not and, while our
young men and women continue to be wounded, we intend to be there to
help. We are pushing on with even more determination, buoyed by the
extraordinary support of the public in our first few months, to ensure
that the wounded get the best help, support and futures that they
deserve.
Our Servicemen and women give more, risk more and sacrifice more,
so we believe that they should be given more; we believe they deserve
the very best. They say they are not Heroes, that they are just blokes
doing their job; we say that anyone who volunteers to join the Armed
Forces and serve in time of war is a hero and we want to help our
heroes.
Help for Heroes needs to raise a great deal of money and as that
money comes in, we will spend it, on improving facilities like the
pool complex or the relative’s house at Selly Oak and by giving grants
to the right organisations to ensure that our wounded get the very
best.
This is needed, it is urgent and it is making a very real
difference to our Armed Forces. Thank you for your support; we need
your help and we need it now.
