ANDRATX
LAST weekend's Just About You column in which I wrote about Andratx resident Robin Widdows' commitment to join me in raising funds for the charity Help for Heroes had the desired effect when Mark Blomfield contacted me to offer a donation.
Yesterday Robin and I were astounded by Mark's generosity when he presented us with a cheque for what can only be described as a substantial sum for H4H.
This donation, the first of many we hope, is a terrific foundation on which to build Majorca's fundraising for the Help for Heroes charity.
Mark, who comes from a long line of Naval officers spoke of his feelings regarding the service personnel who are engaged in the difficult wars in Afghanistan and Iraq: I'd been following the Help for Heroes cause in England and realised that the problem that the soldiers and officers are having with fighting a war that is so far away is that so few people understand, I'm not even sure that I understand it that well myself, but I think that these men and women really are unsung heroes; I go to the States quite a lot on business and when I used to fly into Atlanta or Dallas you can hardly get out of the airport for these welcome home banners and razzamatazz.
I think in the UK we need to find a middle ground, they slightly overdo it in the USA, whereas we're seriously under doing it, and I do think that these poor guys who are coming home have enough traumatic problems anyway because of their injuries and because of what they've been through; they do need to be recognised and appreciated.
Then of course it really became more obvious to me when I read in the Bulletin of Richard Bowles's offer of having Marine G' stay in his house.
I think it's great that now there's a little bit of momentum.
This is what we're aiming for here at the Bulletin, to keep up that momentum and show that Majorca and its British residents care enough to back the wounded troops who are returning to the UK and to support Selly Oak Hospital and Headley Court which are doing excellent work.
More Recovery Centres are desperately needed and I'm confident that we can help achieve something of which to be proud; this is just the beginning, and what a beginning it is thanks to Mark Blomfield.
Email Wendy on wendypetersmdb@gmail.com or log on to www.helpforheroes.org.uk for more information.
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