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24th November 2011
Help For Heroes Announces Former Head of the British Army As The Charity’s First President
Help for Heroes (H4H) are delighted to announce that General Lord (Richard) Dannatt GCB CBE MC ADC, the former head of the British Army, has agreed to be the charity’s first President.
Lord Dannatt has been instrumental in not only the success of Help for Heroes but also its very existence. It was at his suggestion that Bryn and Emma Parry first began to raise money for the swimming pool and gym complex at the rehabilitation centre at Headley Court. This mission captured the great British public’s imagination and spurred them on to start fundraising for those who have become wounded, injured or sick while serving in the Armed Forces. Lord Dannatt is also a Founder Patron of H4H in recognition of all the help, advice and support he gives to the charity.
Lord Dannatt has had a distinguished military career, commissioning into The Green Howards in 1971 with tours including Northern Ireland, Cyprus, Germany, Bosnia and Kosovo. Since retiring from the Army in August 2009, he has held numerous prominent positions including Constable of The Tower of London, as well as publishing his autobiography: “Leading from the Front”. In January 2011 he was appointed a Life Peer and now sits on the Crossbenches as a non-political member of the House of Lords. He is highly regarded by all members of the Army, often referred to as ‘The Soldier’s General’ because of his empathy for all ranks and his desire to ensure that the wounded receive the care they need in the most recent Armed Forces bill. For H4H, this made Lord Dannatt the ideal candidate to take up the first presidency position for the charity.
Bryn Parry says, ‘We are honoured that Lord Dannatt has accepted this position and have no doubt that his wealth of experience will help move the charity into the next stage of providing direct, practical support for life to our heroes and their families.’
Lord Dannatt says, "I am delighted and honoured to have been invited to become the first President of Help for Heroes. From the very beginning of the charity when it was launched by Bryn and Emma on 1st October 2007 in the apartment in Kensington Palace in which my wife, Pippa, and I lived while I was Chief of the General Staff, all the way to today I have been amazed by all that Help for Heroes has managed to achieve for "our blokes". The great British public really got behind the charity right from the start and it is wonderful to see just how much help has been given already to those who have been wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan. The plans for the future are very exciting and I am delighted to be part of the team taking things forward. I would like to thank everyone who has given their time, their energy and their money so far. Help for Heroes is a truly wonderful British charity and I am most proud to be associated with it."
For more information, please contact Jess Baker in the Help for Heroes Press Office on 01725 514276 or email requests and information to prcomms@helpforheroes.org.uk
For more information about Help for Heroes, please visit www.helpforheroes.org.uk
Notes
• Help for Heroes (H4H) has raised over £117m since its launch in October 2007.
• All the funds raised to date are either allocated or spent on the direct, practical support of those wounded in the line of duty since 9/11. To date, H4H has funded a variety of projects including the £8m Rehabilitation Complex at Headley Court, a new £3.5m treatment centre for Combat Stress, adaptive adventure training through the Battle Back programme and the creation of a £6m Quick Reaction Fund to support individuals in need.
• In February 2010, H4H announced its key role in the creation of five regional Personnel Recovery Centres (PRCs), which provide, in partnership with the MOD and The Royal British Legion and other Service charities, ongoing training and support for the wounded after Headley Court. Locations of the PRCs include Edinburgh, Colchester, Catterick, Tidworth and Plymouth.
• Help for Heroes does not seek to criticise or be political. We just want to help and we work closely with the Army, Navy and RAF to provide support where it is most needed.
• Of the money raised to date for H4H, nearly all of it has been either spent or allocated to provide facilities and support services that benefit British servicemen and women injured in action.
• For more information on how we spend your money visit www.helpforheroes.org.uk/how_we_spend.html
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