Afghanistan Trust - Supporting our Paras

AFGHANISTAN TRUST SUMMER BALL JULY 10th 2013

colin — Thu, 16 May 2013 09:56:38 +0000

The Parachute Regiment Afghanistan Trust is a registered charity (1121647) providing welfare support and assistance to wounded paratroopers who have suffered life changing injuries as a result of serving in Afghanistan. The charity also supports their families, and the families of those that have lost their loved ones whilst on operations in Afghanistan

On-going projects:

Funding for Life Skills Courses through the RBLI – cost £1525 per Soldier, possible total of over 200 Soldiers to attend RBLI and other employment courses (The cost to date for is in excess of £238K) this is on-going.
Donation from the Trust provided funding for a car conversion for a Triple amputee L/Cpl Tom Neathway – cost £11,000.
Donations from the Trust to assist in the purchase of a Quad bike for Pte Scot Meenagh who is a double amputee cost £8000
Donation from the Trust for a new all-terrain Mobility Vehicle for Sgt Paddy Caldwell who is a paralysed soldier cost £6000.
We have set up a Trust for the children of those killed in action whilst serving in Afghanistan. This involves annual payments to the Children Trust until the children reach the age of 21 years. The monies are to be used for further education.

We cater for scores of wounded; whose numbers increases after each operational tour the Parachute Regiment completes in Afghanistan. The Trust will continue to support are wounded throughout their lifetime when needed. Consequently, the need to raise funds to help those paratroopers who have sacrificed much in the service of their country remains pressing. More information can be found at www.afghanistantrust.com

On 10^th July 2013, we are holding a fundraising ball at the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC) in the City of London EC1 2BQ. This is the Afghanistan Trust’s major fund raising event for 2013. A similar event held at the HAC in 2012 raised £129,000 and was attended by city bankers, lawyers, accountants, consultants and business men, among others.

Format of the Evening:

1830-1950 - Champagne drinks reception on HAC forecourt

1830 - Static displays of Para equipment, vehicles and troops

1850 - VVIP Guest arrives to meet Guests and Host

1920 - Free Fall Display of The Parachute Regiments Red Devils

1930 - The Band and Bugles of “The Rifles Beating the Retreat”

1950 - Guests are escorted to the dinning room by Para table hosts

2000 - Para Colour Parties march into the dinning room & post the Regimental Colours

2000 - Dinner (each table hosted by an officer/SNCO/wounded soldier of the Regiment)

2150-2200 - Guest speaker “a wounded Soldier from the Regiment”

2200-2300 - Auction of major items by Mr Russ Williams (a popular professional auctioneer)

Auction Lots will include:

●A Bronze Bust of a Paratrooper copy No 2 of 9. Sculptured by Mark (Jacko) Jackson who sculptured The Parachute Regiment’s Memorial at The Arboretum, Staffordshire.

●Tandem jumping with the Parachute Regiments Red Devils.

●Bespoke executive stretch corporate training days with one of the Para units (tailored to the needs of the winning bidder).

●VIP Box at the O2 for 18 people to see Fleetwood Mac (details to follow).

●2 VIP tickets for a British Supper Bike event at Silverstone (details to follow).

●One days sailing for two people on a racing boat at Cowes Week 02 August 2013.

●A two and half day battle field tour of Arnhem 20/21September 2013.

●A 5 day battle field tour of Normandy 3/7 June 2014

More to follow.

There will also be two silent auctions, one of quality sporting, holiday items and the other of high quality art pieces.

2300-0100 - Dancing to the late hours of the evening.

0100 - Carriages.

Entertainment for the evening

The Band and Bugles of The Rifles – www.army.mod.uk/RIFLESband

The City of London Wind Quintet – www.cityoflondonwindquintet.com

DISCO details to follow

Please note that all proceeds from the evening will go direct to the Afghanistan Trust charity.

Tables of 9 + host – £1950

Individual tickets – £195

Dress: Black tie and miniatures / Mess Kit

If you are interested in attending this event then please contact Colin Smith at: ceo@afghanistantrust.org or colinsmith97@hotmail.com Mob 07798647832

LONDON MARATHON 2013 STRETCHER TEAM

colin — Tue, 14 May 2013 10:33:10 +0000

The Chairman of the Afghanistan Trust Lt Col Stuart Total, as well as John Ware, Nick Humphreys, Martin Baber, John Mason and Stuart McDonald make up the Stretcher Team who covered the 26.2 miles carrying a military stretcher to raise funds for the Afghanistan Trust. All taking part finished the course and they say they enjoyed it and can’t wait to do the next one. We know they have raised a substantial amount of sponsorship; the total will be published when it has been accumulated.

This was a great effort and our thanks go to you all for your endeavors to raise funds for the Afghanistan Trust. Well done.

AGA MAN PETE AND WING MAN PAUL COMPLETE THE HALSTEAD MARATHON

colin — Tue, 14 May 2013 10:28:58 +0000

Aga Man Pete Digby and his Wing Man Paul Milsom finally got to complete a marathon with Agatha the Aga. The Marathon officials at Halsted were very helpful and allowed them to start the race at 0830hrs, meaning that they could finish along with the main body of runners. When Pete and Paul approached the finish line they were accompanied in style by a vehicle with flashing blue lights and sirens in full blow. The people of Halsted gave them a rousing welcome with their cheers of appreciation. Pete and Paul arrived in good spirits, yet very tired, but after being presented with a pint of Guinness they soon forgot about the pain and started talking about next year’s Marathon. They completed the course in a fantastic 5hr and 48 minutes, beating their time at the London Marathon where they carried ‘made-up’ Aga’s weighing 70Lbs each – strapped to their backs. These two awesome men completed both Marathons within a 3 week period, and by doing so have raised substantial funds for The Afghanistan Trust (total to be published later). All at The Afghanistan Trust congratulate and thank them both for all their efforts, determination and fortitude throughout these events. Their ‘just giving’ fund raising page www.justgiving.com/agaman will remain open to allow those who wish to donate after they finally got to complete the task they had set their selves. They deserve all our support.

Well done to you both from all at the Afghanistan Trust and a great big thank you for the support you continue to give our PARA’s.

RUGBY FOR HEROES CHARITY

colin — Mon, 13 May 2013 20:26:12 +0000

The annual Rugby 4Heroes took place at The Old Leamingtonians RFC over the weekend 10^th to 12^th of May 2013. The Men’s and Ladies 10s Tournaments was held on Saturday 11^th May and was heavily contested with some awesome rugby being played. The Parachute Regiment entered a team along with teams from The Royal Logistics Corps, Army Veterans and a host of County and touring sides. The Parachute Regiment team played with commitment and talent throughout their matches and found themselves in the final. The team they met in the finals was The Old Leamingtonians who won last year against the Para’s. The match was heavily contested and a lot of hard work and skill was required and the Regiment didn’t disappoint and won the match against their old rivals.

The main reason for the event was to raise funds for Forces Charities which the rugby, evenings of fun and music along with the Remembrance Services held on each day achieved. The Afghanistan Trust would like to thank Mike Valance and the Old Leamington RFC for their commitment to raise funds for those who have sacrificed much for their country. A Big Thank you to the Warwick and Leamington Branches of The Royal British Legion for their part in the Remembrance Services.

EX FALKLANDS VETERAN DOES PARAS 10 FOR THE AFGHAN TRUST

colin — Wed, 01 May 2013 19:22:25 +0000

THE PARA’S 10 ALDERSHOT 2013-Mick Southall

The Afghanistan Trust sends a big thank you to Mick Southall for taking part in The Para’s 10 at Aldershot in March to raise funds for The Afghanistan Trust. Mick is ex 3 Para and was keen to support the Regiment via The Afghanistan Trust. Mick raised in excess of £1,500,we also send our thanks to all his supporters for their kind donations.

“WELL DONE MICK A GREAT EFFORT AND THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT”

DAREDEVILS REQUIRED – ARE YOU BRAVE ENOUGH?

colin — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 15:51:01 +0000

We are looking for 30 people to complete a Tandem jump with the Red Devils to raise funds for our wounded Paratroopers, their families and of course our families that have lost their loved ones while on Operations in Afghanistan.

This will take place in Nottingham on the 2nd July 2013. The cost of the jump is £350 which can be deducted from the funds you have raised, although we hope you will be able to raise further funds to provide us with the means to help our Paratroopers and families. There is a requirement to pay an initial £120 deposit in the first instance (this is part of the £350 cost).

This is ideal for businesses looking for a corporate team-building exercise, and a great way to raise funds for a worthy cause.

Please contact Colin Smith ceo@afghanistantrust.org if you require further information or require a joining pack.

MANY THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT

This is a unique opportunity to experience the thrill of Parachuting with the Red Devils.

THE PARACHUTE REGIMENT ASSOCIATION BRANCH BARNSLEY

colin — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 20:26:46 +0000

PRA BARNSLEY BRANCH

Once again The PRA Barnsley Branch has raised funds for The Afghanistan Trust, this time a fantastic sum of £1,000. It is without doubt that support from the PRAs is an important part of our fund-raising efforts, and for that we are very grateful. Well done Barnsley, and many thanks for all your hard work in raising these funds in support of our soldiers and their families from all Trustees at the Afghanistan Trust.

IT’S THAT TIME – THE AFGHAN TRUST MARATHON TEAM UPDATE

colin — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 19:10:15 +0000

The Afghanistan Trust’s Marathon Team had a launch at Canary Wharf on the 9th April 2013. The launch was attended by David Willets who is a reporter with the Sun Newspaper, and who has agreed to put an article about the AT Marathon Team’s story into the Sun Newspaper. The Team’s mission is to raise funds in support of our wounded soldiers, their families, and of course the families of those who have lost their loved ones whilst serving in Afghanistan.

The team (all but one) are ex members of the Parachute Regiment.

The Team from Left to Right are: Jon Wear, Nick Humphreys, Stuart McDonald, Stuart Tootal, Martin Baber and John Mason.

Their ages are between 27 to 47 years, and their aim is to raise as much money as possible, and to also test their perseverance. The Team are also running for the Soldiers charity who provided the Marathon tickets for the team, although we have to raise a minimum of £1600 for each ticket.

Please make a donation

PLEASE DONATE NOW – Text PARA54 and the amount to 70070

Thanks for your support

AGA MARATHON MEN DO A SECOND MARATHON WITH REAL AGA

colin — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 12:42:01 +0000

Pete & Paul are true to their word and intend doing the second marathon in Essex on the 12th of May at 10am when they will be competing in the Halstead and Essex Marathon which has been cleared by the event organisers today. This is some feat after doing the London Marathon in 6 hours carrying two made up Aga ovens weighing some 70ilbs each and now this some 3 weeks later.

We wish them the best of luck in supporting the Afghanistan Trust yet again

donations can be made at http://www.justgiving.com/agaman

SSAFA FORCES HELP WEST GLAMORGAN BRANCH

colin — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 11:58:43 +0000

Our thanks go to David, the Chairman of the SSAFA Forces Help West Glamorgan Branch, who collected donations at the Liberty Stadium before the Swansea City v Manchester United game on Sunday 23 December 2012. In the very short time they had, they managed to raise £700 for the Afghanistan Trust and £700 for the SSAFA Forces Help. It was a very cold day ,and our thanks go to them for their perseverance and a fantastic donation of £700.