News

Cyclist from Conwy to ride 525 miles for military charity

A cyclist from Conwy is preparing to cycle 325 miles for Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for blind and vision-impaired ex-Service men and women.

Goronwy ‘Gron’ Edwards, 67 and from Llandudno, will be cycling from the charity’s training and rehabilitation centre in Brighton to its Llandudno counterpart. The ride, which will begin on 29 August, will take six days.

The ride will be done on a recumbent bike, something Gron admits may not be winning him any fashion points in the near future. That being said, he remains bullish about its functional properties, something he maintains will be key over the course of the five days.

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Major floods hit Nepal

The Gurkha Welfare Trust’s field team is currently reaching out to vulnerable Gurkha pensioners as Nepal faces its worst rains in 15 years.
Beginning on 11 August 2017, the country’s annual monsoon took a turn for the worse, triggering widespread large-scale flooding and landslides in 27 of the country’s 75 districts.
Across the nation, search and rescue efforts are underway with a total of 8,300 trained security forces already deployed. Around 70 people have already been killed and dozens more are missing.
So far, there are no casualties to report among the ex-Gurkha community. In the most affected areas, our own patrol teams are risking their own safety to reach vulnerable pensioners and provide medical aid, relief items and cash grants where necessary.

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Living with disability: a Gurkha hero’s daughter

Life in Nepal can be hard at the best of times. For those who suffer from a disability, it can be an almost impossible experience.

This is equally true for the children of many of our Gurkha pensioners. As fathers, our veterans are deeply concerned with the wellbeing of their family, especially as they grow older and are faced with the prospect of no longer being around to help them.

To ensure that some of the more vulnerable children of Gurkha veterans are able to live with dignity, we provide Disability Support Grants after the loss of their parents. This ongoing assistance helps them to survive in a country with limited healthcare, welfare support and infrastructure.

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Blind veteran from Conwy to complete three-day Iceland trek

A blind veteran from Conwy is currently training to complete a three day Iceland trek with Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for blind and vision-impaired ex-Service men and women, and The Not Forgotten Association.

Amazingly, Steve Thomas, 45 and from Llanrwst, was entered into the challenge, which has been arranged by The Not Forgotten Association, unknowingly. Steve explains “The Rehabilitation and Training Manager from the charity’s Llandudno centre put my name in the hat without me even knowing!

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Felix Festival returns to raise funds for bomb disposal charity

The Felix Festival, a live music event that fundraises thousands of pounds for those affected by military and police careers in bomb disposal, is returning by popular demand on September 16 at Silchester in Hampshire.

The music event, organised on behalf of the charity Felix Fund which provides financial and wellbeing support to Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) personnel, is this year hoped to raise £30k — surpassing the £25k raised at Felix Festival 2015.

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Calling all veterans! Charity launch search for round-Britain crew member

A Cornish sailing charity is launching a recruitment drive with a difference – to find a military veteran to join them on a section of a challenge to sail around the British Isles.

A crew of seventeen injured veterans – many with little or no sailing experience – set sail on a tall ship from Falmouth in Cornwall on August 5 on the Turn to Starboard Round Britain Challenge. So far the team has battled huge waves and clocked up more than 400 miles sailing up clockwise up the West coast.

Now the charity is calling out for a crew member also affected by military operations to join them on the epic journey, whether for a shorter section or the rest of the route.

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Finding a Flexible Approach to Work after Service Life, by Harriet Rogers

Harriet Rogers shares her story about wanting a new career that is more flexible and not office based.

It was during my career transition workshop, run via CTP, that panic began to set in. My fellow officers announced their chosen industries to work in after leaving the military – Project Management, Consultancy, Defence Sales, Finance – making me feel increasingly like an imposter. I introduced myself and feebly squeaked that I wanted “something flexible and online.” I felt mortified that I did not have a better plan.

Despite 12 years of commissioned Service and working in high pressure environments, I suddenly doubted if I could adapt to my new career. I appreciate I am not alone.

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Ex-Homeless Veteran takes on an intense physical and mental challenge – walking the UK coastline

From the 1st August 2017, military veteran Chris Lewis will be embarking on an epic journey to walk the entire UK coastline – with all proceeds raised being donated to SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity.

Chris will be starting his adventure on Llangennith Beach in Wales, before heading north into Scotland and then back down the east coast and across the south coast.

Far from being a walk in the park, Chris will be embarking on his challenge with absolutely zero funds, and will be relying on the goodwill of both the public and local businesses to supply him with all the food, water, accommodation and equipment he needs for each leg of his journey.

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