Latest from Horse & Hound in Help-for-heroes

Injured servicemen to play para polo match

Sophia Heath — Sun, 16 Mar 2014 13:00:51 +0000

The first ever para polo match is to be played by injured servicemen at the Best of British Polo day.

The match will take place after the traditional contest between the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force for the Duke of York Cup at Tidworth Polo Club on 1 June. All profits will be donated to Help for Heroes.

The para players have been learning the game as part of Help for Heroes’ wounded sports recovery pathway, but this will be their first match.

Martin Colclough from Help for Heroes said: “The freedom and exhilaration the team has gained from playing polo up until now is fantastic to see.

“The influence the sport has on the mental and physical health of someone who has suffered life changing injury or illness makes this — and all adaptive sport — incredibly valuable.”

The exact format and the teams for the match are yet to be decided, but the servicemen and women will play alongside members of the Army polo team.

It is hoped the match could provide the opportunity for other disabled riders to get involved in the sport. Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) already has a few members practising polo.

“I think it’s absolutely brilliant,” said Ed Bracher from the RDA. “We would love to challenge them to a match sometime soon.”

For more information and to buy tickets www.bestofbritishpolo.co.uk

This article was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (13 March 2014)

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Horslyx employee bares all for charity calendar

Horse & Hound — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 10:49:26 +0000

A horse feed sales representative has stripped off for a charity calendar in aid of Help for Heroes.

Horslyx employee Keira Goodwin ditched her uniform to pose as Miss June for the “Hotties Calendar” which was launched on Saturday (8 September).

“The calendar brought together 11 ‘normal’ girls who were brave enough to bare all to raise money,” said a spokesperson for the calendar.

Help for Heroes provides practical support to injured service personnel, veterans, and their families.

For more information and to buy a calendar visit www.hottiescalendar.co.uk

Soldier killed by rearing horse had “ridden for one hour”

Horse & Hound — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 14:11:10 +0000

The inquest into the death of an amputee soldier – who was crushed by a horse during a Help for Heroes parade – has heard that he had only had an hour of riding tuition before the event.

Platoon Sergeant Mark Stebbing, 39, a Gulf War veteran, was being led back to the stables after the parade at Sandown Park in February when his mount, an ex-racehorse, reared and came down on him.

The inquest heard that Sgt Stebbing had undergone just one hour of riding tuition before the parade, which took place in front of 5,000 spectators. He suffered severe crush injuries and was taken to St George’s Hospital in Tooting, London, where he later died.

The event was organised by the Army rehabilitation organisation Battle Back and was supported by the Help For Heroes campaign.

The inquest heard that other riders in the parade had been given military horses from the King’s Troop to ride, which were more suitable for riders with limited experience.

Lieutenant Colonel Reynold Blue, who investigated Sgt Stebbing’s fall on behalf of the Army, said that following the death he had recommended that at all future events horses and riders should be matched according to their capability. Soldiers’ injuries should be taken into account, he added.

But a Health and Safety investigation ruled that the accident could not have been foreseen and that all procedures had been followed prior to the parade.

Surrey Coroner Michael Burgess recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Horse feeds staff saddle up for New Forest cycle ride

Horse & Hound — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 14:04:24 +0000

Fit Freddy, Saracen Horse Feeds’ mascot, has inspired two of the brand’s senior team to hop on their bikes to raise money for Help for Heroes.

“It’s a tongue-in-cheek reference to Fit Freddy’s philosophy on healthy eating and exercise for horses,” said a Saracen spokesman.

Commercial director Jim Scott and ex-military man Mark Weaver, area manager for the south-east, will undertake a 68-mile bike ride in the New Forest on 15 May.

Both men are novices, having started cycling just before Christmas. They have bought bikes specifically for the challenge.

Jim Scott said: “Mark and I are passionate about this cause and hope that we can raise as much money as possible for the young men and women who are put in harm’s way whilst carrying out their duty.”

To sponsor, visit: http://www.bmycharity.com/markweaverNF

Leap in your Land Rover to break a world record

Horse & Hound — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 17:16:57 +0000

The Land Rover community is attempting to break the Guinness World Record for the biggest convoy of the vehicles, by gathering 500 Land Rovers to raise money for Help for Heroes on Easter weekend.

The world’s oldest Land Rover, 1949-manufactured HUE 166, will lead the convoy, and bidding for a seat in the car has already reached £200.

Nearly two hundred Land Rovers have registered to take part since booking opened in January. There can be a maximum of 525.

The existing convoy record of 260 Land Rovers was set by McGuigan Motorsport at Towcester Racecourse on 18 April 2004.

The Convoy for Heroes event takes place on 23-24 April, starting at Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon, Warwickshire. The convoy will leave at 1pm on 24 April.

Entry for the convoy itself is £20 and you will also need a visitor pass for the weekend, which costs £12, or £8 for a child.

This includes free entry to the Heritage Motor Centre museum, which houses a working replica of the first car ever made and James Bond’s car from Quantum of Solace.

To bid for a seat in HUE 166, email: c4h_organisers@btinternet.com. The auction closes at 6pm on 20 April.

For more information, visit www.convoy4heroes.org.uk

Silent auction for Help For Heroes at Stallion Showcase GB

Horse & Hound — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 10:48:36 +0000

A silent auction will be held at this weekend’s Stallion Showcase GB (SSGB) at Addington Manor EC (5-6 February), to raise money for forces charity Help for Heroes.

Lots include stud fees for famous stallions such as Don VHP Z, Unbelievable Darco and Weston Justice among other goodies such as a Hickstead membership.

There will be at least 35 lots up for auction and all proceeds will go to Help for Heroes.

“The response from stallion owners has been very impressive,” said SSGB organiser Shirley Light.

Bidding is done by filling in a slip with the name of the auction lot, the amount you are prepared to bid, and your details — which is posted into a locked voting box.

The highest bid wins, and a cheque is then be written for that amount directly to Help for Heroes.

Bidding begins at 9.30am on 5 February, the first day of the SSGB weekend, with the bidding box to be opened at 5pm on 6 February.

For full details and timetables, visit www.stallionshowcasegb.co.uk

Ride across Mongolia for Help For Heroes

Horse & Hound — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 12:37:28 +0000

Help for Heroes, a charity supporting injured servicemen and women, is inviting riders to take part in a sponsored 200km (124 mile) horse trek in Mongolia from 8-18 July.

The route of the ride will pass through the Khangai Mountains of central Mongolia, the territory of nomadic Khalkh Mongols, and finish at Kharkhorin, centre of Genghis Kahn’s 13th century empire.

During the day, riders will trek though unspoilt scenery and ford rivers. At night they will stay in gers, the Mongolians’ portable but comfortable nomadic homes (often known as ‘yurts’ in the UK).

“It’s a great cause, a real cultural experience, and it’s absolutely beautiful there,” said Jess Baker of Help for Heroes. “Riders will have a wonderful time, meeting many of the nomads and enjoying the stunning landscape.”

“If space allows, one of the injured servicemen supported by Help for Heroes will also go along for the ride.”

Riders must raise at least £4,000 in sponsorship to go on the trip.

Around half of this will be spent on travel costs, although riders can pay the £2,000 out of their own pocket.

For more details see: http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/challenges-mongolia-horse-trek.html

Polo event raises £18,000 for Help for Heroes

Amy Mathieson — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 17:55:31 +0000

Nearly £18,000 has been raised for Help for Heroes through a charity polo match.

Earlier this month (10 November) Falklands war vet Simon Weston was presented with a cheque for £17,670.52 for Help For Heroes. The charity supports members of Britain’s Armed Forces wounded while serving their country.

The event — Polo For Heroes — took place at St Albans Polo Club in Hertfordshire in July.

It featured polo matches involving celebrity and forces teams.

The cheque was presented by Clare Dingwall who helped organise the event.

Clare said: “Polo for Heroes was a fantastic success thanks to the help we received from so many people — and it was a privilege to present the cheque to Simon.”

Plans are already in place for another Polo for Heroes event next year, on Saturday 23 July, at St Albans Polo Club.

For more information visit: www.poloforheroes.co.uk

Sign up for sponsored ride around the Badminton Estate

Charlotte White — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 14:20:43 +0000

Do you dream of riding round Badminton but know you’ll never have the skill or bravery to do so?

Then the Badminton Ride on Sunday 26 September could be just the thing.

This sponsored ride will take place in the surroundings of the Badminton Estate, where the world-famous four-star horse trials take place each year.

The ride will be about 10 miles long with 40 or more optional fences.

The entry fee is £20 (£15 for riders aged 14 years and under) paid prior to 18 September, or £25 (£20 for children) on the day.

Badminton final scores

This year’s Badminton Ride is in aid of Help for Heroes, the charity that helps care for wounded soldiers, in particular those returning from the current conflict in Afghanistan.

To book your place, just go to www.badmintonride.com to download your entry form.

Horses for Heroes sponsored ride deadline is coming up

Charlotte White — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 17:08:21 +0000

You have until 18 December to sign up for the UK’s largest ever sponsored ride — Horses for Heroes.

More than 1,000 riders have already signed up for the event which aims to raise at least £1m for the services charity Help for Heroes.

Run by Ascot Racecourse and Hpower Group (organisers of Olympia and Royal Windsor Horse Shows) the “Horses for Heroes” ride, on Saturday, 10 July, hopes to attract 2,010 riders who must first raise at least £500 each

Riders start from Ascot Racecourse, ride through Windsor Great Park before ending back at the racecourse and crossing the finishing post on the track.

Riders must pay a £100 non-refundable deposit to register, via www.horses4heroes.co.uk, and must sign up by Friday, 18 December.

Hunting days and a trip to the horseraces up for auction

Horse & Hound — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:59:26 +0000

A day’s hunting for two with the Belvoir, a day at Southwell races and a polo lesson at the Vale of York Polo Club are just some of the items up for auction by the Union of Country Sports Workers.

Union of Country Sports Workers (UCSW) has launched an online Autumn Sporting Auction to raise money for Help for Heroes, and for the union to continue its valuable work.

The online auction offers an array of accessories, books and days-out ideal for any country aficionado. As well as equestrian-themed lots, there is a visit to the European Parliament, a mole-catching course and an introductory lesson to falconry.

The catalogue can be viewed at www.ucsw.org and the public are encouraged to bid by email, post or fax.

With bidding closing at 3pm on Friday 27 November and winners being notified in early December, the auction is timed to finish well-before Christmas, making it the ideal place to search for quirky Christmas gifts.

The UCSW represents anyone employed in country sports and their ancillary trades — including hunt staff, saddlers, farriers, grooms, jockeys, vets and gamekeepers.

The union — run on an almost entirely voluntary basis — was set up in 1997 and now has around 5,000 members based all over the UK, as well as around Europe and in the US.

All proceeds will go to the UCSW Fighting Fund, with a donation being made to Help for Heroes, a charity that supports ex-servicemen.

2,000 riders to take part in Help For Heroes fund-raiser

Charlotte White — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:44:10 +0000

More than 2,000 riders plan to converge on Windsor Great Park in a major fund-raiser for Forces charity Help For Heroes.

The riders will complete an eight-mile round route from Ascot racecourse through the park on 10 July 2010.

Racing broadcaster and former jockey Brough Scott, whose son Jim has served in Iraq, will officially launch the event, which organisers hope will raise more than £1million, on Friday, 25 September.

Mr Scott said: “It will be a totally unique experience involving people across the country and the riding world.

“We hope that young and old, leisure riders and dressage riders, show jumpers, eventers, mounted police and military, will all take part.”

And he hinted that places will be set aside for very high-profile “local” riders.

The 2,010 participants will be expected to raise at least £500 for the charity and a campsite and stabling are planned at Ascot.

A 2,000-person ride at Windsor was planned by the British Horse Society in 2007 to celebrate its 60th anniversary, but the event was cancelled due to safety concerns (news, 17 May 2007).

But Ascot racecourse spokesman Nick Smith anticipates no such problems this time.

“We will be relying on volunteers and goodwill,” he said. “The entire ride will take place on Crown land for which we already have permission.”

The HPower Group, organiser of the Windsor Horse Show and military tattoo and the recent European Championships, is also involved.

HPower managing director Simon Brooks-Ward, who is a colonel in the Territorial Army, said: “We would like to mirror rugby’s highly successful Help for Heroes event at Twickenham last year and get the whole sporting community behind the armed services.”

Help for Heroes was set up in October 2007 by cartoonist and former soldier Bryn Parry to raise money for the rehabilitation of service personnel injured in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The charity’s latest venture is creating army recovery centres across the UK to provide a launchpad for those seriously wounded or long-term sick soldiers who must make the transition to civilian life.

Riders will be able to sign up at www.horses4heroes.co.uk from next week.

Will 2,010 riders sign up? Contact our letters page at hhletters@ipcmedia.com

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (17 September, ’09)

Eventer Lottie Prentice is new face of charity sports bra

Amy Mathieson — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 14:44:39 +0000

International event rider Lottie Prentice has teamed up with sports bra company LessBounce to lend support — literally and figuratively — to military charity Help for Heroes.

Lottie, 31, is the face of LessBounce’s new Help for Heroes crop top — of which £2.50 from each top sold goes to the charity for injured servicemen.

“I am a huge fan of this charity,” said Lottie. “I recently lost a friend in Afghanistan and I was really keen to get involved.”

LessBounce founder Selaine Saxby added: “We are delighted to give to Help for Heroes. We already send sports bras to serving soldiers across the globe.”

Help for Heroes co-founder Emma Parry said: “We have many people involved in sporting fund-raising activities who will benefit from the bra, as well as our servicewomen themselves.”

Lottie and her top horse Cool Decision — who is on the 2012 equine pathway — also feature in the LessBounce catalogue.

Visit www.lessbounce.com

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (6 August, ’09)

Hunts raise £76,000 for Help for Heroes

Charlotte White — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 10:06:03 +0000

A grand total of £76,000 has been raised by hunts across the UK this year for the forces charity Help for Heroes (H4H).

A cheque was handed over to the charity by the Masters of Foxhounds Association MFHA) at the Cheltenham Countryside Race Day last Friday (14 November).

Hunts pledged their support for the charity at the start of the year by donating the cap from their meets on 23 January.

Fundraising has continued throughout the year, culminating in the donation last week that will help H4H’s £8million campaign to provide a swimming pool and gym for injured soldiers recovering at the Headley Court, the defence medical rehabilitation centre near Dorking, Surrey.

Captain Ian Farquhar, joint-master of the Duke of Beaufort’s hunt handed over the cheque to Brigadier Christopher Parker, the commandant of the Headley Court and Sophie Butler of H4H.

Speaking to H&H, Capt Farquhar said: “Spending a couple of hours last Friday in the company of two young men who have lost limbs is salutary and any money we can raise to help them, and other members of the armed forces like them, in any way is fearfully important.”

Brigadier Parker thanked the MFHA for the “generous donation” saying: “We are very grateful for the continuing public support for such a worthy cause.”

H4H was set up by cartoonist and former soldier Bryn Parry in October 2007. He said: “This is a wonderful contribution and we are very grateful for all the work that has gone into raising the amount.

“The money raised will directly support our servicemen and women with enhanced facilities and services.”

£76,000

Headley Court specialises in the rehabilitation of military patients with complex trauma, brain and spinal injury as well as a wide range of muscular-skeletal conditions.

http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/

Devon farmer’s Help for Heroes horse ride hopes to raise £7,000

Horse & Hound — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 11:41:09 +0000

A Devon farmer who has raised over £50,000 in twelve years of charity rides completed his most recent ride in aid of Help for Heroes at London’s Horse Guards Parade on June 23.

Michael Bickell a beef farmer and chairman of the Lamerton hunt, set off from his home in the village of Lifton, Devon on Saturday June 14 making nine stopovers at such towns as Exeter, Axminster, Salisbury and Winchester, where he and four other riders from the Lamerton hunt were put up by fellow hunts people.

Mr Bickell has done a charity ride every year for the last twelve, with his longest ride being John O’Groats to Lands End.

On route, the riders rode through the centre of Guildford, met the deputy mayor and in an unprecedented privilege were allowed to ride through the changing of the guard in London.

Mr Bickell said: “We stopped at many pubs on route, only one rider got a sore bum – but I can’t say who, and we got to parade round the show ring at Wimbledon Village Fair.”

Mr Bickell hopes to raise in excess of £7,000.

Help for Heroes fundraiser sets off on epic 1,255 mile walk

Amy Mathieson — Fri, 16 May 2008 11:23:15 +0000

Countryside Alliance (CA) fundraiser Andrew Bruce will be embarking on a 1,255 mile walk today (Friday 16 May) to help raise money for Help for Heroes — a charity which helps badly injured servicemen returning from Iraq and Afganistan.

Andrew has been at the CA for eight years, and was a key organiser of the massive Liberty and Livelihood March on 22 September 2002. He was responsible for the task of transporting 400,000 people to London from all over the country for the biggest civil liberties demonstration in British history.

He will be leaving his fundraising role to walk along the Way of St James medieval pilgrimage route — starting from the Cathedrale de St Pierre in Geneva and finishing at Santiago de Compostela in north west Spain about three months later.

Andrew told H&H: “I will be walking about 18 to 22 miles a day — it’s going to be tough, it’s hot and mountainous on the route. I will be sleeping in a one-man tent, which only weighs 860g as I have to carry everything with me.

“It’s very daunting. And my training has been non-existent — I’ve just been so busy fundraising I haven’t had any time. A couple of weekends ago I walked about nine miles in the Black Mountains in Wales and was absolutely dead! But I am determined to succeed.”

He is aiming to raise money for a new £5mill hydrotherapy pool and gym at Headley Court Rehabilitation Centre in Surrey. And he has already raised £32,000.

“There are a terrible amount of young soldiers who are wounded and not looked after as well as they should be — so Help for Heroes gives them additional support,” he said.

“I’m staggered — I thought I’d be lucky to raise £20,000 but I’m already at £32,000 and I’ve only been fundraising a few days.”

A list of 50 patrons will be supporting his challenge including Field Marshall The Lord Bramall, Sandy Gall, Sir Ranulph Fiennes and James Blunt.

Andrew’s progress can be followed on his blog on the Help for Heroes website www.helpforheroes.org.uk

To sponsor Andrew visit: www.justgivingcom/theonethousandmilewalkforhelpforheroes

Hunts raise funds for wounded war veterans

Horse & Hound — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 15:24:49 +0000

Hunts across the country have raised thousands of pounds for war veterans’ charity Help for Heroes (H4H).

H4H was set up last October by cartoonist and former soldier Bryn Parry to raise money for the Tri Service Rehabilitation Centre near Dorking, Surrey.

It aims to raise £8million to provide a swimming pool and gymnasium at the centre to aid the recovery of wounded servicemen and women.

As part of a national campaign, the Hunting Office, which administers all packs of hounds in the UK, asked if hunts might have a collection or donate the cap from their meets on 23 January.

The Flint & Denbigh raised more than £1,300 in donations at their meet at Cefn village hall in North Wales and the Cotley donated the £2,000 cap from their meet at the home of Ian and Jean Stanford in the Yarty valley, Devon.

Two serving soldiers, Major General Barney White-Spunner and Captain Quentin Hicks, attended the meet.

Capt Hicks said: “While out in Iraq, you feel a million miles away from the West Country and all of you here, but I know that it will be a great boost to the troops to know the support you are giving through this charity.”

Duke of Beaufort’s supporters also dug deep at Mr and Mrs Leslie Milsom’s farm near Sopworth, raising more than £3,700. And the Cotswold raised more than £2,000 at their meet at Tally Ho Farm in Guiting Power, Wiltshire. Donations are still coming in from around 10 other hunts. The money is being collected centrally at the Hunting Office.

Director Alastair Jackson said: “We have no idea of a total because funds have just started coming in. Not everyone had their H4H day on the same day, and some hunts did their own thing — for example, the East Anglian hunts had a special day for the East Anglian regiment.”

Bryn Parry, who is a former Royal Green Jacket, said: “We have had the most overwhelming response to our appeal to support our wounded servicemen and women who have been injured while serving their country.

“It would be wonderful if some of these brave people will eventually be able to take up riding as part of their rehabilitation.”

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (7 February, ’08)