I am thrilled and honoured to have been selected to be a Buddy for the 2021(now 2022) Veterans Skihabilitation Week in Klosters.  Thank you so much for taking the time to visit my JustGiving Page to find out what it is about and how we can all make a huge difference to the lives of the amazing Armed Forces veterans who need our help.

Supporting Wounded Veterans (SWV) was set up in 2012 to help those servicemen and women with physical and/or mental injuries rebuild their lives and prepare for the future, through a carefully designed and unique, ski based programme specifically created to regain lost confidence, fitness and strength.  It is the start of an ongoing rehabilitation journey involving mentoring, pain management and employment programmes.  The Charity has an unparalleled re-employment success rate of 91%.

In March 2022 (delayed from 2021 due to Covid) SWV will be taking 26 medically discharged Veterans to Switzerland.  With the help of specialist adaptive ski instructors, buddies, medics and support teams this will be the start of their rehabilitation back into employment. My role as a Buddy is to support and look after my paired Veteran during the week and assist the Adaptive Ski Instructors.  This could involve anything from helping with kit, lending an ear, being a shoulder and doing whatever is required to be part of their journey.

But this costs money and this is where you and I come in...I am aiming to raise a minimum of £6,000.00 to help fund the places for the Veterans (it actually costs £14,000.00 in total per veteran).  I will be covering my own costs and expenses so please rest assured that 100% of any donation you may make will go directly to SWV.

In return for your generosity, and as part of my contribution, I have set myself a challenge...I'm going to learn ballet!  In fact I am aiming to take my Grade 1 Ballet Exam, or the equivalent, by the time we leave for Switzerland.  If the Veterans can leave their comfort zone, then so can I and rest assured this is going to be right up there with many of the challenges I have done in the past.  I was a soldier, my wife a ballet dancer so you can blame her, or perhaps congratulate her, for the idea...!  The more money I raise, the more embarrassing photographs I will show you.  How's that for an incentive?

I would be hugely grateful for your support, however large or small, and all donations will directly help rebuild the lives of those to whom we owe so much.  Please spread the word and share my page with friends, family and colleagues.  The more people who know about SWV, the greater their impact.

Thank you SO much in advance.

Simon.

For more information, please visit their website at www.supportingwoundedveterans.com and take a look at this great editorial in The Daily Mail:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/you/article-2825194/Hope-heroes-meet-forces-veterans-lives-transformed-charity-Skiing-Heroes.html