A Second World War blind veteran from Cumbria is to be formally presented with the Chevalier de l’Ordre National de la Legion d’Honneur for his part in the liberation of France.
William Gerard Lackey, 96 and from Ulverston, will be presented with the prestigious honour by Philip Daniel, the Honorary French Consul of Liverpool, on behalf of French president Francois Hollande next week (19/04).
Read moreThe SSVC Forces Welfare Media Team have been busy reporting from schools, playing fields and even from the back of a fire engine.
In Bradford, reporter Dave McCann has been filming veterans from the Skillforce charity who deliver courses to students. He’s also been investigating how the pupil premium works in a school in North Yorkshire.
Read moreA man from Surrey is set to compete in the London Marathon for Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision-impaired ex-Service men and women.
Lateef Iqbal, 47 and from Farnham, opted to sign up to the mammoth 26-mile challenge after last year sustaining a knee injury which rendered him unable to partake in his extensive list of sporting interests. He says: “I injured my knee, a longstanding niggle that just wouldn’t go away, and the MRI scan basically showed that I couldn’t play badminton, couldn’t play squash, couldn’t swim or play football. The only thing the doctor said I could do was walk!”
A woman from West Yorkshire is set to run the London Marathon for Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision-impaired ex-Service men and women, to say thank you for the support it provided to her grandfather.
Kate Foster, 28 and originally from Cleckheaton and now living in Bromley, is running on behalf of the charity which provided her grandfather, Eric, with the means and confidence to lead a prosperous and independent life, despite his complete sight loss.
Read moreA group of serving Royal Air Force personnel are cycling an 82 mile ‘Tour of Lincs’ in a single day, to raise funds for the Royal Air Forces Association.
Led by a group of RAF personnel based at RAF Scampton, the team currently has 20 members signed up for the ride on 19 April 2017. They will tour five RAF Stations in Lincolnshire, stopping at each to raise funds and talk about the work of the Association. Members of RAF Scampton’s cycle club are also heavily involved.
Read moreThe Soldiering On Awards are delighted to release the video of the Awards night which took place on the 24th March 2017 at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel. A night of celebration; honouring all of the Awards Finalists and Winners.
Read moreA stunning, symbolic sculpture depicting the last remaining tree in a First World War battlefield is set to go on display at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum to coincide with the launch of the commemorations of the Battle of Arras which began 100 years ago this week.
The sculpture, entitled “FRANCE 1914”, was created by artist Simon Burns-Cox who donated it to Poppyscotland, an organisation which provides life-changing support for the Armed Forces community. Having previously been on display at the Scottish Parliament and the People’s Palace Museum, it will be exhibited at Kelvingrove for the coming 12 months, before moving to Glasgow’s Riverside Museum next year. Thereafter, it will be auctioned off with the funds going to Poppyscotland.
Read moreOne of the stars of Emmerdale has joined several blind veterans as they trained for the 100k Yorkshire challenge, a 24-hour walk organised by Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision-impaired ex-Service men and women.
Jonathan Wrather, 48 and currently starring as Pierce Harris in the long running soap-opera, joined blind veterans Roan Webb, Mike Johnson and Steve Thomas as they trained for the ultra-challenge in the Yorkshire Dales. A former Cadet in the Combined Cadet Forces, Jonathan has long been an admirer of the charity and is looking forward to taking on the mammoth challenge, which he’ll be competing in as part of a relay team with fellow Emmerdale actors, Chris Chitell and Liam Fox.
Read moreWith just seven days to go before she flies to Morocco on April 7th to take part in the gruelling 270 kilometre Marathon des Sables, NFA Head of Events Rosie Thompson is putting the final touches to her pre-race preparations.
We are delighted to announce that her fundraising total – all of which will be used to help provide events and activities for injured service men and women – now stands at more than £20,000. Rosie has been overwhelmed with the support and interest she has received and would like to wish all those undertaking the event for other service charities the best of luck.
Read moreThe 2017 Soldiering On Award winners were announced on Friday 24th March at the Black Tie Dinner and Awards ceremony held at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel, London in the presence of the charity’s patron the Rt Hon Earl Howe PC.
550 Guests attended the Awards, hosted by award-winning journalist Angela Rippon and former Royal Marine medic Cassidy Little, the Awards ceremony recognized 46 finalists in 10 categories, naming each category winner.
The evening, opened by Soldiering On CEO Anne Donoghue, commenced with a minute’s silence in remembrance of PC Keith Palmer, formerly of the Royal Artillery, and all those killed and injured on the 22nd April.
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