care for casualties

www.careforcasualties.org.ukIssue 1 Summer 2012

Celebrating Achievement Through Adversity

Rifleman Jake Bartlett p6

Rifleman Dan Shaw p8

Fundraising stories p4 & 5

OveR

£2mRaISeD SO FaR!

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2 CARE FOR CASUALTIES

ABOUT THE APPEAL

Rebecca Maciejewska Lt Col (retd) Mike Smith MBE

Fundraising Coordinator Regimental Casualty Officer

2 | www.careforcasualties.org.uk

Others with no formal connection with The Rifles have been incredibly supportive, having been inspired by the

stories they have heard. Thanks to this we are now able to make a real difference to the quality of life of those members of our Regimental family who have sacrificed so much.

The Appeal has been set up with the intention of ensuring that we, as a Regiment, can support our casualties from the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts with the care they need both now and for the rest of their lives, whenever they should need it. The term “casualty” embraces the wounded, their families and the families of our Fallen. It relies on the generosity and thought of all of our regimental family. We at Regimental Headquarters and in the Battalions do all we can to help, but if you know of someone who is feeling forgotten or is in need, please let our Regimental Casualty Officer, Lt Col (retd) Mike Smith ([email protected]) know.

With over 60 Killed in Action and more than 30 who have lost limbs, and a further 300 having suffered from other serious injury, immediate needs are very obvious. However, the intention of C4C is to ensure that we will have the funds available to assist with the enduring needs of our casualties. Our wounded are generally between the ages of 18 and 26 at the time of injury and therefore have many years of life ahead of them. They need to know that there is support available at every stage and whilst a huge amount of money has been raised, we are currently spending it at a rate of over £100,000 per year. Much more is needed if we are to achieve our goal of knowing that we will be able to honour our enduring commitment to all members of our regimental family who have been affected by the service The Rifles have given in Iraq and Afghanistan.

This first edition of The Care for Casualties Newsletter is a celebration of achievement through adversity. It tells the stories of some of our casualties and of our fundraising. Swift and Bold truly has been the theme of the first two years of this appeal.

Thank you all!

Welcome

The Rifles’ Care for Casualties appeal has been up and running for just over two years and the response has been extraordinary. Funds raised have exceeded £2,000,000 and members of the regimental family have come together from the past and present to achieve this incredible sum.

Our SupportersThe Rifles have been supported by many other charities and organisations, some of whom are mentioned below. We are grateful to all these organisations and individuals who assist us in caring for our casualties.

If we have forgotten to mention you, please give us a kick and we will be pleased to acknowledge you in the next edition.

The Milton Keynes half-marathon. Both Jackie Kellett, mother of a Rifleman serving in Afghanistan at the time, and CApTAin Bill HollAnd who is himself serving and likes to run with a fridge strapped to his back, took part.

3 Rifles at the Marine Corps marathon. This was the second year that 3 Rifles crossed the Atlantic to take part and the team consisted of able bodied Riflemen as well as those who had been seriously injured whilst serving on operations.

SOme OF OuR FunDRaISIng aChIevemenTS. mORe STORIeS Can Be FOunD On pageS 4 anD 5.

Team Green, comprised of friends and family of Cpl RiCHARd GReen have been consistently fund raising for Care for Casualties.

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CARE FOR CASUALTIES 3

ACHIEvEMENT THROUgH AdvERSITy

Stephan and Sadie van niekerk

COveR STORY

On October 22nd 2009 Lance Corporal

Stephan van niekerk’s life was changed forever when he stood on an IEd during an Operation in the Sangin area of Helmand Province, Afghanistan whilst serving with A Company, 3 Rifles. His injuries which included the loss of one leg above the knee and the other below the knee, the loss of one side of his right hand and the partial loss of four fingers were immediately life threatening and if that was not enough he contracted severe pneumonia between the point of injury and arriving at Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham.

However Stephan is a resilient young man and supported by his wife Sadie he has made an incredible recovery and is now preparing

for life outside the Army.Care for Casualties has

helped fund the purchase of a quad bike which has given him considerable independence, allowing him to walk his dogs and help Sadie look after her two horses. In addition charitable funding from C4C and SportTech PLC enabled Stephan and a number of other severely injured Riflemen to travel to Breckenridge, Colorado to ski with wounded US veterans from their Wounded Warrior Programme.

However both Stephan and Sadie would acknowledge that life has not been easy with Sadie having to cope with both an injured husband and a baby, adaptations to their house and the uncertainty of what the future might hold. Sadie, who is training to become a Nurse, spoke eloquently at the ABF – The Soldier’s Charity welfare conference on the impact

Stephan’s injuries was having on her career and life in general. However helped by funds from C4C Sadie was able to take a short respite break in London and this Summer will graduate as a fully qualified Nurse.

In addition she has become a prolific fund raiser organising a charity horse ride as well as arranging for collecting tins to be left in local shops.

Row to Recovery

lT Will dixon and Rfn CARl AnsTey achieved the impossible! With two other seriously wounded and two able bodied soldiers they rowed the Atlantic with the charity Row to Recovery as part of the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge. Despite running out of drinking water and damaging their rudder the team kept going and crossed from the Azores to Barbados in an incredible 51 days.

Skiing in Colorado with BLESMA and the Wounded Warrior Programme.

www.careforcasualties.org.uk | 3

Rifleman Sam parker 4 Rifles takes the helm

A number of our injured Riflemen have enjoyed sailing with the Jubilee Sailing Trust on their fully accessible tall ships and we are currently looking for volunteers to join the Lord Nelson on its round the world voyage next year.

Birthday Surprise

Rfn deAn WilliAMs 2 Rifles celebrated his 21st Birthday at Tedworth House, the newly Personnel Recovery and Assessment Centre, with a visit from the Band and Bugles. They played an impromptu concert in front of the house and Dean was presented with a birthday cake made by the chefs from Blue Apple. Dean is currently attending a course at Lackham College funded by Care for Casualties.

mORe STORIeS OF COuRage

Care for Casualties

derives enormous

support from our

bereaved families

some of whom are our

most successful fund

raisers. in return C4C

has funded counselling

for parents and siblings,

provided respite

holidays for families and

organised transport to

commemorative events.

a SpeCIaL Thank YOu:

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FUNdRAISINg STORIES

Riflemen have volunteered, risking their lives on behalf of others; we need to do all we can to support them and show our appreciation for their courage and sacrifice.

veterans serve Riflemen of Today

Becca maciejewska, our Fundraising Coordinator writes:

The scope and number of fundraising activities undertaken over the past 2 years

has been quite unbelievable. Together we have raised over £2 million but Care for

Casualties has done more than that.

It has brought people together from across the spectrum in the name of The Rifles

and in support of our wonderfully courageous casualties. veterans, Regimental

Associations from all our antecedent Regiments, families of our Fallen, sons and

daughters, wives, mothers, fathers and friends have all played their part, as have our

wider communities, the Mayors and Mayoresses, Boroughs, Cities and Counties, ACFs

and CCFs and also some incredibly kind hearted people who have no connection at all

with The Rifles other than that they have heard our story and want to do all they can to

help. Thank you all!

Spread across these two pages are some photos illustrating the range and diversity

of fundraising activities. They just give an idea of what has been going on. We must

keep at it! The need remains and so we need to keep going!

pHil WARdle, an ex-Gloster, at everest Base Camp.

Coco, sJT pAul CoCoRAn, veteran light infantryman, has done many crazy things in support of Care for Casualties; extreme ironing in a sea King helicopter, walking Hadrian’s Wall with a sink on his back and carrying an ironing board as he walked across Britain from coast to coast in his pyjamas.

BoB McHenRy, who served with The 60th Rifles, can be seen fundraising in and around Colchester most weekends.


sid KeyTe, ex-Rifles, impersonates susan Boyle.

The devon and dorset Association and local cadets joined forces to make the open day at Highwood Gardens a huge success.

Raised£42,000

£2m raised – half way to our target of £4m. Thank you.

Guy HARRis, former Green Jacket competed in the dutch powerman.

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This photo shows Team swift and Bold, made up of friends and family of Josh Bowman. see our website for more information about their incredible “Race Across America”.

Race across america

FUNdRAISINg STORIES


Bob and deb simpson, parents of Rfn dAn siMpson, have made and sold Christmas wreaths.

A Charity Ball organised by the mums of injured Riflemen.

Anna Rainbow in the south downs Relay.

We have had generous support from many Masonic lodges.

Rifles’ mums’ challenge.

Chepstow Race day.

It’s not just the Riflemen who serve, it’s their families too and we owe it to them to look after them all.The Rifles are not

only looking after our

bereaved families, we

are being cared for by

them as well. These are

remarkable people whose

generosity of spirit is to

be celebrated. ever since

the appeal began, family

members of those heroic

Riflemen who lost their

lives in afghanistan and

Iraq have been in touch,

offering their support

and fundraising to help

the friends of their son,

brother, husband, father.

For more information about these and other stories...

Please visit: www.careforcasualties.org.uk or email us on [email protected]

DIaRYSome of the events taking place around the country. See our website for more...

also...

MARCH

2012

Our Christmas Cards will be avaialble from October. Our website will announce the details.

5th augustCharity football match in memory of Cpl mark palin

18th augustLanzarote Fun Day for heroes 2012

1st Septemberherefordshire gala evening and Sounding Retreat

16th Septembergreat north RunEmma Humphreys will be supporting Care for Casualties again as she takes part in The Great North Run. Please support her in this tough endeavour: http://www.justgiving.com/Emma-Humphreys0

13th OctoberThe second aitch group Charity Ball in aid of Care for Casualties and Warrior programme

Raised£90,000

The Aitch Group.

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HOW WE SPENd THE MONEy

The Regimental Casualty Officer, Lt Col (Retd)

mike Smith writes:

The money raised by the Care for Casualties appeal allows the

Regiment to provide immediate support to its wounded, their

families and the families of our fallen Riflemen. Each year we are

spending almost £120,000 on education courses, car and house

adaptations, fitness equipment including hand bikes and gym

equipment and funeral expenses not covered by the MOd. We

have paid for bereavement and marriage guidance counselling,

mental health courses, respite holidays and travel expenses often

working in tandem with other Service charities.

A major part of what we do is to fund adventure training

opportunities provided by charities such as the Jubilee Sailing

Trust and BLESMA which play a very important part in the

rehabilitation process. The list is endless but our aim is react to a

need as quickly as possible with the minimum of bureaucracy.


RIFLeman pauL JaCOBS who was awarded the george

Medal whilst serving with 2 Rifles has undertaken a number of

challenges on behalf of C4C and other Service charities.

Paul who was blinded has climbed Mt Kilimanjaro and here is

preparing to cycle with his brother Joe on the back of a tandem from

Edinburgh to London for SSAFA.

He was accompanied by RIFLeman mIChaeL SWaIn from

3 Rifles on bicycles funded by Care for Casualties.

C4C funded an

adapted bike

for Lucy whose father

was killed on operations

in Afghanistan whilst

serving with 1 Rifles.

Lucy suffers from

Cerebral Palsy and

so C4C stepped in to

help and also funded

swimming and riding

lessons which had been

recommended by her

therapist.

DavID haRT from 6 Rifles

was injured whilst serving on

operations in Iraq. C4C has funded

david through his Post graduate

Certificate in Education at Exeter

University from where he will graduate

this July. We wish him every success

in his new career as a teacher.

LCpL TYLeR ChRISTOpheR faces the camera.

Thanks to the generosity of donald Bousted and his

team at BestBitsMedia Ltd a series of videos were made

explaining the work of Care for Casualties through the eyes of

some of our bereaved parents and injured Riflemen. Edward

Watson, himself a former Riflemen, was responsible for

realising the project and directing the videos which can be

viewed on our web site www.careforcasualties.org.

RIFLeman Jake BaRTLeTT

has not only learnt to ski since

he lost a leg serving with 3 Rifles but

also went skydiving with the charity

Pilgrim’s Bandits in dubai.

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HOW WE SPENd THE MONEy

“The Care for Casualties pack

was great, everything in the bag

was useful, especially the clothing and sportswear.

The pack was not only valuable for helping me through my time in the

hospital but also essential for headley Court and for promoting the Regiment

throughout my recovery”.


Former Rfn, BILLY hugheS,

cycled 762 miles in 7 days, visiting

along the way LCpL maRTIn eDWaRDS,

a casualty from Iraq, who is resident in the

daniel yorath Brain Rehabilitation Centre in

Leeds. Martin recently enjoyed a two day

respite break with his carers funded by

C4C, his first holiday in over four years.

Billy started his ride in Poole going north

as far as Carlisle, then via Newcastle,

ending his journey at Peninsula Barracks,

Winchester. Here pictured at the Keep,

dorchester.

RIFLeman ChRIS gWILT stands on the side of Mt

Manaslu, the 8th highest mountain in the world as he

prepared to support the charity Walking with the Wounded

in their bid to climb Mt Everest. Chris was a Territorial Army

Rifleman who was badly injured on operations and C4C has

helped fund education courses for him in preparation for life

outside the Army.

L to R, LCpL RICkY

haTTOn, RIFLeman

aLex SWInhOe and

RIFLeman maTT FISheR

recovering from their injuries

at the defence Medical

Rehabilitation Centre,

Headley Court.

They are wearing items from

the welfare packs which are

given to all our injured Rifleman

on their return to the UK.

RIFLeman

ChRIS paRkeS

has not let serious injury

deter him from pushing

himself to the limit. Chris

from 3 Rifles lost a leg

whilst serving in

Afghanistan but recently

joined an expedition to

climb Mt Kilimanjaro and

has also learnt to ski and

completed a tandem

parachute jump.

SJT maRk hOLLOWaY

of 5 Rifles who suffered

severe injury to his right arm is

pictured getting back to full fitness

on a bike funded by the charity

Just Rifles.

C4C has helped fund Mark

on a Military Mentors course run

by SkillForce which is part of his

Individual Recovery Plan after

which he will rejoin his Battalion.

DavID TImmS was badly

injured when the Band of

the 1st Battalion The Royal green

Jackets was blown up in Regents

Park on 20th July 1982 killing 7 of its

members. 30 years after the event

Care for Casualties has helped david

purchase a new motability vehicle.

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Send a chequeMake it payable to: “The Rifles Regimental Trust (Care For Casualties)”. visit our website to download and complete a gift Aid Form so we can recover the taxable element.

Set up a Standing Ordervisit our website to download a form.

By FundraisingOrganise your own challenge. e.g. a bike ride, a skydive or participate in an event, such as The London Marathon, and get sponsorship.

hold an eventBecome a Promoter.

Become a Corporate SponsorIf you run a company and would like to explore how you can support the work of The Rifles Charities please contact us at [email protected]

Offers of Support in kindHolidays, accommodation, work experience and training. If you or your organisation can offer facilities and opportunities which will help the rehabilitation of our wounded please contact us at [email protected]

Donate something we can sell by auctionIf you have something of value be it an item, an experience, tickets, or something money can’t normally buy, we would love to hear from you.

Care for Casualties is printed by The greentree Press on Evolution 100 Silk, made from FSC certified 100% recycled post consumer waste. design: www.nexus-design.co.uk.

RIFLES CASUALTy CAPABILITy

Rifleman Dan Shaw takes to the West end stage

Rifleman Dan Shaw was seriously wounded whilst serving with 4 Rifles in

Afghanistan in 2009 losing both legs and therefore the idea that two years later he would appear on stage in the West End was inconceivable.

However thanks to an innovative theatre project supported by such luminaries as Sir Trevor Nunn and Ray Winstone the Bravo 22 Company put on a play entitled The Two Worlds of Charlie F at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in the heart of London’s theatre land in which dan had a leading role.

The play was written by Owen Sheers who spent months interviewing wounded Servicemen and Women whilst they were going through their rehabilitation and tells their story as they recover from their physical and psychological wounds.

The play was put together by the Theatre Royal Haymarket Masterclass Trust in partnership with the Royal British Legion and the Army Recovery Capability and such were the rave reviews that the play is going on tour around the country, and will feature in the Edinburgh Festival.

Follow us on Twitter

Join our Facebook

HOW TO SUPPORT US KEEP IN TOUCH

And for all the most up-to-date news on our fundraising activities, please visit:www.careforcasualties.org.uk

Care for CasualtiesRHQ The RiflesPeninsula Barracks Romsey RoadWinchesterSO23 8TS01962 [email protected]

Registered Charity No. 1119061

MARCH 2012

MARCH 2012

Photo by kind permission of The Royal British Legion

Photo by kind permission of Helen Murray Photo by kind permission of The Royal British Legion

Rifleman Dan Shaw (front centre) and the cast of The Two Worlds of Charlie F

Mr Ray Winstone and Rifleman Dan Shaw


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