Sponsored by SSAFA
https:// https://www.ssafa.org.uk/about-us
https://www.ssafa.org.uk/support-us
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06 June 22. Armed Forces Week is 20 – 25th June and fast approaching and is your chance to show your support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community: from currently serving troops to Service families, veterans and cadets.
Armed Forces Week this year is particularly pertinent, as on 14th June 2022, it is the 40th Anniversary of the end of the Falklands Conflict. As names and addresses of the injured and fallen were released by the MOD, voluntary workers in SSAFA Head Office briefed local representatives in towns and villages all over Britain. As a result, nearly every widow of the 255 men who lost their lives was visited and offered help, comfort and good counsel where needed.
Armed Forces Week this year is particularly pertinent, as on 14th June 2022, it is the 40th Anniversary of the end of the Falklands Conflict. As names and addresses of the injured and fallen were released by the MOD, voluntary workers in SSAFA Head Office briefed local representatives in towns and villages all over Britain. As a result, nearly every widow of the 255 men who lost their lives was visited and offered help, comfort and good counsel where needed.
Relatives were helped with travel arrangements to ports, airfields and hospitals. Branches also put the relatives of men in the Task Force in touch with one another and organised morale boosting parties.
On 6th April 1983, 541 relatives of the fallen embarked on their long, sad journey to the Falkland Islands. In the Escort Party which accompanied the bereaved families to provide sympathetic support was Mrs Anne Woodruff, SSAFA’s Senior Social Worker.
There are many ways for people, communities and organisations across the country to show their support to the Armed Forces family, so why not get involved, this Armed Forces Week and raise some vital funds for SSAFA at the same time.
As part of SSAFA’s Mentoring service, Micky was assigned a SSAFA Mentor who helped him to transition to civilian life, including help with housing, benefits and providing household supplies.
Micky said: “My Mentor went above and beyond for me in my time of need.”
In 2021, Micky signed up to the 13 Bridges Challenge – London’s only Armed Forces Day event – to give back to the charity.
He said: “I wanted to do the 13 Bridges Challenge to give back to the charity that helped pull me through the most difficult time of my life and say thank you. The event was brilliant and the company I had made it that bit better. The guides who lead us around the course on the day were brilliant and even joined us in some singing part way round!”
Micky raised over £260 for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity by taking on the 13 Bridges Challenge. He has now signed up to the 2022 event with his children and plans to raise even more for the charity.
If you feel like taking on this year’s challenge, on 25th June, it is free to sign up and we ask that each person raises £60 for SSAFA to continue to support members of the Armed Forces, Veterans and their families.
It’s a 10-mile walk that is suitable for all fitness levels and ages so is a great event for the whole family. Starting at Tower Bridge, the event will finish at Eel Brook Common after the last bridge, Battersea Bridge, is crossed. There you’ll be greeted by entertainment and will enjoy a well-deserved cold drink.
Don’t forget to look out for the Reservist units who will be manning each bridge, distributing water and telling our walkers a little more about their unit’s role and activities!
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SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, has been providing lifelong support to our Forces and their families since 1885. In 2020, our teams of volunteers and employees helped more than 79,000 people in need, the currently serving (both regulars and reserves), veterans from the Second World War and those who have served in more recent conflicts, as well as their families. SSAFA understands that behind every uniform is a person. And we are here for that person – any time they need us, in any way they need us, for as long as they need us.
https://www.ssafa.org.uk/about-us
https://www.ssafa.org.uk/support-us
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