2 Marathons, 8 Days!

May 3rd, 2012

Having intimately witnessed the physical and mental trauma that serving in Afghanistan can bring, Ed Sandry feels it is incumbent on us to raise money. His target is £1000. A £1000 will provide a Life Skills Course for a soldier to get back on his feet. They have proved very successful and he would like you to play a part in helping a wounded Paratrooper come to terms with his injury and realise there is another life to lead.

In completing both Brighton and London Marathons in 8 days He has to have to admit that he found the latter part of the London Marathon a little tiring…

Our thanks go out to Ed for his fantastic effort on behalf of the Trust.

To support us and Ed please take a look at his JustGiving page.

Simon Chalmers Completes Virgin London Marathon

April 10th, 2012

As ever the Afghanistan Trust would like to thank yet another fantastic supporter. This time our thanks go out to Simon Chalmers who has raised a fantastic £1590 for the Trust on completion of this years Virgin London Marathon.
Simon  stepped up to the plate with only 4 weeks notice! This was no mean feat, even for the fittest of men and certainly not for the faint hearted. Simon, thank you.

If you would still like to support the Trust and Simon please take a look at his JustGiving page which is still active for donations .

Afghanistan Trust Summer Ball – Sponsorship Opportunities

April 5th, 2012


A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO SPONSOR THE PARACHUTE REGIMENT AFGHANISTAN TRUST AT A CHARITY DINNER AND DANCE – THE AFGHAN SUMMER BALL – 18th JULY 2012

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 while on operations in Afghanistan  

On-going projects:

  • Funding for Life Skills Courses through the RBLI. – cost  £1450 per Soldier, possible total of 89 Soldiers to attend (Possible cost £129K)   £46,000 to date – on going.
  • Donations from the Trust to assist in the creation of a memorial Garden and families area (2 PARA)  – £3000.
  •  A donation toward a Statuette in memory of Conrad Lewis (4 PARA) who was killed in action – cost £2000.
  • The setting up of a Trust for the children of those killed in action whilst serving in Afghanistan.  This will involve annual payments into the Children Trust until they reach the age of 18 years. The monies will be used for further education. On going
  • We have teamed up with SkillForce to create job opportunities for Soldiers within the teaching world to become mentors/instructors within schools in the Essex area. On going
  • Further funding of an upgraded mobility vehicle for a paralysed soldier – cost £11,000.
  • Financing life skills training to assist badly wounded soldier’s transition into civilian life after discharge from the Army.  – cost up to £12,000 per soldier.

We cater for scores of wounded; whose numbers increases after each operational tour the Parachute Regiment completes in Afghanistan.  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 18th July 2012, we are holding a fundraising ball at the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC) in the City of London.  This is the Afghanistan Trusts major fund raising event for 2012.  A similar event at the HAC in 2011 raised £121,000 and was attended by City bankers, lawyers, accountants and consultants and business men, amongst others.

This year’s event offers a significant sponsorship and corporate hospitality opportunity to companies wishing to support the Afghanistan Trust at a high profile event covered by the local and national media.

Examples of Sponsorship Packages: 

A £5,000 sponsorship package includes:

  • A stand facility at drinks reception on the HAC parade ground where it will be seen by 400 people.
  • Company logos displayed on dinner menus and events programme.

Format of the Evening:
1800-1900 – Champagne drinks reception on HAC forecourt
1800 – Static displays of Para equipment, vehicles and troops
1845-1900 – Band of the Parachute Regiment Beating the Retreat
1900 – Guests are escorted to the dinning room by Para table hosts
1915 – Para Colour Parties march into the dinning room & post the Regimental Colours
1930 – Dinner (each table hosted by an officer/SNCO of the Regiment)
2100-2125 – Guest speaker, speaking on their experiences in Afghanistan
2130-2200 – Auction of major items by Mr Roger Dakin (a popular professional auctioneer)
Lots will include: tandem jumping with the Red Devils, bespoke executive stretch corporate training days with the one of the Para units (tailored to the needs of the winning bidder) and a ‘guns and ammo day’ on the ranges with one of the Regiment’s specialist units. A copy of the No1 Victoria Cross edition of the SAS War Diaries *
There will also be two silent auctions of quality sporting and holiday items and the other of high quality art pieces.
2200-0100 -  Dancing to the late hours of the evening
0100 – Carriages
Please note that all proceeds from the evening will go direct to the Afghanistan Trust charity. * 50% of monies for the War Diaries will go to the SAS Association
Tables of 9 + host – £1850
Individual tickets – £185
Dress: Black tie and miniatures / Mess Kit
If you are interested in attending and/or sponsoring this event then please contact Ben Huxley at:

ben.huxley@jpmorgan.com

Download a pdf file of this information here

353 Ball Raises £13,600 for the Afghanistan Trust

March 30th, 2012

Once again we would like to give our thanks to Tony Lewis and 353 for their fantastic efforts and continued support. The 353 Ball has just raised an outstanding sum of £10,000 for the Afghanistan Trust. The Ball was held in Conrad Lewis’ old school, the Guy Nelson Hall, Warwick School. Such dedication and commitment cannot be put into words.

The Barnsley Branch of the Parachute Regimental Association was also present and together with their friends contributed a fantastic £3,600 to the Trust.

‘Leading in Adversity’ raises almost 1K for the Afghanistan Trust

March 30th, 2012

Captain Martin Hewitt managed to raise a fantastic sum of £845.00 for the trust just by speaking about his experiences in the context of leading in adversity. Martin is an accomplished and humorous public speaker and the proceeds of the money raised from his talk will be donated to the Parachute Regiment’s Afghanistan Trust charity for wounded soldiers www.afghanistantrust.org and the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine Patient Welfare Fund www.rcdm-patientwelfarefund.com

Captain Martin Hewitt was awarded a Mention in Dispatches for his first tour of duty in Afghanistan with the Parachute Regiment. On his second tour of duty he was hit by a Taliban bullet and severely wounded; the injury he sustained led to the loss of the use of his right arm.

Despite these injuries, Martin has trekked to the North Pole with Walking to the Wounded as one of Harry’s Heroes as seen on the BBC. He has also set up the GB disabled ski team and climbed 8,000 metre peaks in the Himalayas in preparation for making an attempt on Everest.

NISSAN STILL SUPPORTING THE AFGHAN TRUST: MISSION MOROCCO A SUCCESS

March 8th, 2012

 

 INJURED PARATROOPERS MAKE £50K FOR COLLEAGUES

 Mission Morocco 2012 smashes fundraising target for injured paratroopers and the families of colleagues killed in action

The Nissan sponsored trip, Mission Morocco 2012, which saw four injured paratroopers trek across the North African desert on behalf of The Afghanistan Trust, has smashed its target, raising almost £50,000 for injured paratroopers, their families and the families of those killed in action.

Mission Morocco 2012 was carried out by four inspirational servicemen who have all been injured in the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan and was organised by Nissan, as part of its ongoing commitment to The Parachute Regiment Afghanistan Trust. The Trek leader was Captain Matt Clamp 3 PARA.

Two of the soldiers who took part in the trek lost a leg below the knee and all, despite their injuries, are still
active in the Regiment.Supported by a number of Nissan employees, the soldiers spent 14 days trekking in the North African desert after driving in convoy in specially-adapted Nissan Navaras from Merville Barracks in Colchester via Nissan HQ in Rickmansworth. During their time in the desert, all members of the trip carried out specially designed challenges, including seeking out a safe house by cover of darkness, carrying out mine clearing exercises, GPS navigation tasks in the Navaras and a ten mile march.Sergeant Allan Jackson, who was accompanied by colleagues, Private Mark Vidler, Private Patrick Burns and Private Callum Urquhart, said of the experience; “I think Mission Morocco 2012 was one of the most rewarding experiences we’ve all carried out as part of the regiment. It was definitely grueling at times – the ten mile march especially! Knowing that we’ve smashed the fundraising target we all feel really proud of our achievement and know the money will be well spent. Thanks to everyone who donated!”

The Trust has been overwhelmed by the support Mission Morocco has received and despite suffering injuries themselves, these men’s courage and selfless determination to help others in need and their families is inspiring. Working with Nissan this year to reach a fundraising aim of £250,000, Mission Morocco 2012’s success brings us a big step closer to our target.

To read the team’s blog and watch exclusive videos please visit www.nissanmissionmorocco2012.co.uk and if you’d like to donate to The Afghanistan Trust you can do so at http://www.justgiving.com/2012missionmorocco or http://www.afghanistantrust.org/. To Donate via text message, text PARA55 plus your donation amount to 70070, for example PARA55 £10. 100% of your donation will be received by The Afghanistan Trust and you will also get a text back confirming how you can add Gift Aid to your donation.

 

‘Leading in Adversity’ – A talk by Captain Martin Hewitt to raise money for wounded soldiers.

March 5th, 2012

On: Thursday 22nd March 2012

Drinks 1830-1915

Presentation 1930-2030

Tickets: £25

At JPMorgan (125 London Wall, London EC2Y 5AJ)

In aid of:
Captain Martin Hewitt was awarded a Mention in Dispatches for his first tour of duty in Afghanistan with the Parachute Regiment. On his second tour of duty he was hit by a Taliban bullet and severely wounded; the injury he sustained led to the loss of the use of his right arm. Despite these injuries, Martin has trekked to the North Pole with Walking to the Wounded as one of Harry’s Heroes as seen on the BBC. He has also set up the GB disabled ski team and climbed 8,000 metre peaks in the Himalayas in preparation for making an attempt on Everest.

Martin will speak about his experiences in the context of leading in adversity. Martin is an accomplished and humorous public speaker and the proceeds of the money raised from his talk will be donated to the Parachute Regiment’s Afghanistan Trust charity for wounded soldiers www.afghanistantrust.org and the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine Patient Welfare Fund www.rcdm-patientwelfarefund.com

If you would like to attend the talk, then please forward your details to Paul Findlay at paul.findlay1@barclays.com

Rugby 4 Heroes

March 5th, 2012

Old Leamingtonians RFC presents the 4th Annual Rugby 4 Heroes Festival on the weekend of Friday 18th May through Sunday 20th May 2012. They are supporting the Afghanistan Trust as one of their good causes.

There is much to do and see including tournaments, a parachute display by The Parachute Regiment Red Devils, live music and much much more. Adult admission is £10 for the weekend and kids go free, so come along support The Afghanistan Trust and have a great weekend.

The Regiment have two teams taking part in the knockout competition.

www.rugbyforheroes.org

3 PEAKS CHALLENGE – TROY CONNOR AND FRIENDS

February 20th, 2012

Once again again Troy has done yet another event for the Afghanistan Trust, he and several friends have completed the 3 Peaks.

They have raised a substantial £4,100 for the Trust. Troy is seen in this picture with Johnny Nelson, a former world champion boxer presenting the cheque on behalf of all those who helped raise the monies. Johnny is an avid supporter of the Trust.

Our thanks go out to everybody who helped including: Halifax Golf Club, Hebden Bridge Boxing Club and many others.

Copyright © 2012 The Afghanistan Trust. Registered Charity Number 1121647. The Parachute Regiment, Merville Barracks, Colchester, Essex, CO2 7UT