Gearoid O'CONNOR
GOC
Fundraising for The Colonel's Fund Grenadier Guards
Story
On 24 September, with at least 200 others, I'm cycling from Wellington Barracks London to Waterloo in Belgium in aid of The Colonel's Fund Grenadier Guards. The Fund has been raising money to provide support to Grenadiers who have been seriously injured in Afghanistan, and to the families of those who have been killed. The Grenadiers have had a long bond and association with the HAC and this is why I am proud to be involved. They have carried out 3 tours in Helmand Province and have lost 15 members of the Regiment who were killed in action; in addition, the Regiment has sustained a large number of battle casualties, with many suffering life changing injuries. And of course, there remains the unquantifiable number of those who will have suffered mentally and who will need our support in the future.
Having served in Afghanistan and dealt first hand with the trauma that many of those who need our support have suffered, I ask you to dig deep. I can assure you that I will not do this again and any contribution, however small, will make a difference.
HRH Prince Philip, Colonel, Grenadier Guards explains:
"One of the most valuable features of the regimental system is the sense of comradeship which it creates between present and past members of the Regiment, and with all their families and friends. It is always there, but, when the need arises, it can be turned into tangible and appropriate support.
The'Wellington to Waterloo Bicycle Ride', and the fund-raising events surrounding it, are intended to convert that sense of comradeship into a practical regimental response to the severe stresses suffered by so many of its members, and to provide practical help for the bereaved families of those who have been killed in action, and for those who have suffered serious injury in recent operations. I hope you will feel able to support this novel fund-raising event."
If you would like to see more information about The Colonel's Fund, Grenadier Guards, go to www.grengds.com and click on The Colonel's Fund tab.
As you might imagine, for me, doing this bike ride is a major challenge, but I have never been moved to fundraise in this manner! So I NEED YOUR SUPPORT!