Thea Pharmaceuticals is gifting ten wreaths to Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision impaired ex-Service men and women, to support blind veterans to take part in Remembrance events in their own communities.
Now in its tenth year of fundraising for the military and sight loss charity, Keele based Thea Pharmaceuticals will be gifting ten wreaths to mark ten years of support.
Remembrance is a special time of year for veterans, their families and those in active service. Every November, blind veterans, staff and volunteers come together to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Thea is now in its fourth year of supporting Blind Veterans UK’s ‘Gift a Wreath’ campaign. During the organisation’s time as a supporter of Blind Veterans UK, Thea has gifted wreaths to members from across the UK, ensuring they are able to take an active part in their local commemorations. Veterans like Clive Jones.
Clive served in the British Army and was blinded 24 years ago while serving. He has been supported by Blind Veterans UK since 2001. He says:
“I lay a wreath every year as a mark of respect to those who I once knew and to those who I didn’t. The sacrifice given by all Service men and women should never be forgotten. It’s so important to remember and also to educate those who don’t fully understand why wreaths are laid.
“When laying the wreath, I think of all my friends and colleagues whom I’ve lost over the years. When I close my eyes and bow my head, I always think of my Great Uncle Richard; I wear his medals on my right side. He was special to me and we are the only members of my family to have served.
“I’m so grateful to those who make it possible for myself and my fellow blind veterans to lay a wreath.”
The charity’s campaign invites businesses, local groups and individuals to ‘Gift a Wreath’.
Over the years, Thea colleagues have raised money for Blind Veterans UK in a variety of ways including bike rides, bake sales, marathons and even donkey walking raising a total of £76,000. In May, six colleagues from the organisation completed a skydive to mark the 80th Anniversary of VE Day and to remember and celebrate blind veterans who took part in the Second World War as well as those who have served since.
Glaucoma Team Manager at Thea, Francesca Quin, laid a wreath in Beckenham last year as part of the town’s Remembrance Day Parade. She was joined by her two young sons to lay the wreath. She says:
“I was very honoured to lay a wreath on behalf of Blind Veterans UK and Thea. It makes it even more special to have done it with my children.
“The team at Thea, myself included, are so committed to our work with Blind Veterans UK, it’s really inspirational to see.
“I’ve been to the charity’s centre on numerous occasions, receiving such a warm welcome from the veterans and staff. Getting a good understanding of the work Blind Veterans UK does, has made the Team at Thea even more committed to support them each year.”
Navneet Gupta was one of the group who took on the skydive In May. He says:
“This May marked the 80-year anniversary of VE Day – the end of the Second World War. It’s easy to forget the significance of these events when you weren’t alive to see it for yourself, but it’s because of the sacrifice of so many men and women at that time, that we can live the lives we do today. So, I thought, what better way to show some support than by taking a dive out of a plane!
“Blind Veterans UK work tirelessly to help and serve those who fought for us and sacrificed the most precious of senses – their sight – during the process. It’s a very worthy cause and working in eyecare all my career, I want people to realise just how precious sight is and that it shouldn’t be taken for granted.”
Victoria Beech, from the Blind Veterans UK Community Partnerships team, says:
“Our relationship with Thea has grown in strength over the past ten years and hasn’t only been about fundraising. We have also seen staff volunteering with our veterans and supporting campaigns such as our annual Gift a Wreath campaign.
“Our Gift a Wreath campaign is a lovely opportunity for local businesses, community groups and individuals to show their support for service personnel past and present who have sacrificed, and continue to sacrifice, so much for our country.
“We are privileged that Thea Pharmaceuticals, an organization, that understands only too well the impact of sight loss, has chosen to champion us.
“Those who gift a wreath will have their name added to the wreath and the option to add a message of Remembrance to the ‘Gift a Wreath’ page on the Blind Veterans UK website.”
You can join Thea and sign up to support Blind Veterans UK’s Gift a Wreath campaign: blindveterans.org.uk/wreath
Blind Veterans UK supports thousands of blind veterans across the country, but knows there are many thousands more who still need its support to rebuild their lives after sight loss.
If you, or someone you know, served in the Armed Forces, including National Service, and are now struggling with sight loss, then please get in touch. Call 0800 389 7979 or visit: blindveterans.org.uk/gethelp
