21 Feb Colchester United Football Club host Help for Heroes
A group of Help for Heroes veterans from the Band of Brothers Fellowship Scheme were recently hosted by Colchester United Football Club; a partnership that seems to have been a perfect match.
One beneficiary who attended commented: “Playing sports has been so important for my physical recovery but spending time with friends and family watching sports is just as important. It allows me to focus the mind on other issues and temporarily escape my anxieties. When the opportunity arose to visit our local Football Club I jumped at the opportunity. I’ve even been inspired to try walking football since the event and I enjoyed it so much that I’m thinking about joining a club”.
The League Two Club originally donated a guided tour, dinner and executive box at a match to an auction hosted by the Mayor of Colchester. Cllr Gerard Oxford has Help for Heroes as one of his “Charity of the Year” partners and was hoping that the auction would raise some much-needed cash for his worthy causes. Philip Lawrence of Baverstocks Chartered Accountants bid for the lot but on learning that Help for Heroes was one of the beneficiaries he kindly donated it back:
“I’m a Colchester chap born and bred; the armed forces have always been very important to the town, so I wanted to do something to help. I strongly feel that those who put their lives on the line for us deserve a second chance at life and we must do our upmost to respect them. I’m really impressedwith the services that Colchester Recovery Centre offers as its so far reaching. You tend to think of injured servicemen or women who have stepped on a bomb, but the charity supports many more with hidden wounds”.
Colchester Recovery Centre aims to inspire, enable and support those who have been wounded, injured or sick while serving our country; encouraging them to lead active, independent and fulfilling lives. With an adaptive gym, an award winning reflective garden, a Support Hub which offers advice and guidance on a range of issues, a psychological well-being suite, en-suite bedrooms and family rooms Chavasse VC House has been specially designed to offer the very best recovery environment. The charity also supports the loved ones of our veterans; understanding that a supportive network can be crucial for recovery.
