Help 4 Heroes - Galaxy Hand Over
Three Royal Navy sailors who are set to walk from Cardiff's Millennium Stadium to Wembley Stadium for Help for Heroes visited Colchester Garrison to see where the money they raise will be spent.
The trio, made up of Chief Petty Officer James Cameron-Wood, Petty Officer Andy Gibbs and Writer Mike Paddock, who are all based at Permanent Joint Headquarters in Northwood, set off on the 160-mile trek on Monday (August 29) to deliver the match ball for the England v Wales Euro 2012 qualifying match on September 6.
The team visited the site of the Colchester Personnel Recovery Centre today (Tuesday, August 23). The PRC, which is being built with Help for Heroes funding, is on schedule to open early next year and give wounded, injured and sick soldiers additional care and support to help them successfully return to duties or transition into civilian life.
PO Gibbs, known as Gibbo, has already raised £100,000 for Help for Heroes, including £14,000 collected by a walk from Wembley to Cardiff with the ball for the Wales v England game in March. He has donation boxes at 24 pubs across London and does collections outside major sporting events.
He said: “Help for Heroes does fantastic work to support the military and we’re determined to do our bit to support them. It is a real motivating factor for us to see how the money we’re raising is spent and what a fantastic facility the Colchester PRC will be to help service personnel complete their recovery from injuries.”
More than £29,000 has already been raised for the current challenge, including sponsorship and collections at Essex County Cricket games at the Ford County Ground, Chelmsford.
Mark Elliott, Help for Heroes’ Chief of Operations, said: “I wish Gibbo and his team all the best for their walk and thank them for their efforts. They epitomise the fantastic backing the British public has given to Help for Heroes to support our wounded soldiers, sailors and airmen, raising millions of pounds from all sorts of events.”
Essex Auto Group has once again provided a Ford Galaxy support vehicle and provided the necessary funding to support the walkers on their journey from Cardiff to Wembley.
Group Marketing Director Matt Brown said: “We are proud to be involved with Gibbo’s fundraising efforts. Help for Heroes is a hugely worthwhile charity doing excellent work to support the military, which is an important part of the Essex community.” Brown said “As a local company and employer we feel it is important that the group is seen not simply to live off the community but to be seen living in it and playing active part in supporting the many good causes which can improve local people’s lives and provide them with increased opportunities”
The Colchester PRC will be the first purpose-built facility of its kind and will provide residential accommodation for up to 29 soldiers and 31 day attendees. The building's capital costs have been funded by Help for Heroes and the Royal British Legion will meet the centre's running costs, with support from other Service charities and Government Departments.
To sponsor the team visit www.bmycharity.com/WALKTOWEMBLEY and follow their progress at www.facebook.com/doingitforheroes
