The Soldiering On Awards 2013
It was a huge honour to have been invited to this year’s Soldiering awards. The whole evening was a fun yet insightful experience into the monumental heroism of our armed forces. This yearly event will be fixed in my calendar in ætérnum. A hugely deserving cause that will humble anyone. True heroes and heroines all.
The Soldiering On Through Life Trust was formed and registered with the Charities Commission of England & Wales in August 2011. The official charity number is 1144828.
The seeds for the Charity came after The Soldiering On Awards, which were held for the first time at the Savoy Hotel in London in 2011. The event helped to recognize and honour servicemen and ex service personnel who had sustained significant injuries whilst serving their Country. The Awards were designed to help them cope with the challenges of the future, recognizing their achievements of rebuilding their lives and inspiring others. Families were also honoured for the wonderful support they have given to our true “heroes”.
The Charity built on the success of these Awards with The Soldiering On Awards 2012, held at the Waldorf Astoria Syon Park Hotel. The event was an even more glamorous affair with many more of the ‘good and the great’ of the Military along with a host of famous household names in attendance. All of whom generously helped us raise much needed funds to the supported charities such as The British Limbless Ex Servicemen’s Association (BLESMA), the ABF-The Soldier’s Charity, The RAF Benevolent Fund, The Royal Navy Royal Marines Charity, the Royal Naval Benevolent Trust and in this very special year The Bomber Command Memorial Appeal Fund. Support to the Household Cavalry Best of British Art Exhibition in April 2012 helped raise funds for the Household Cavalry Foundation, another military charity we are so pleased to recognise.
The full aim of our charity is to relieve the financial hardship of people who have served, or who are presently serving, in the armed forces – and their families- and who are now suffering from either physical disability due to injury and/or mental disabilities, by making grants available through the various military charity support organisations.
The Trust added to the number of Trustees in April 2012. We were delighted to welcome a number of new Trustees to join David Hahn, Treasurer Flt Sgt Julie Calder and Sqn Ldr Tal Lambert : John Novelli, Murray Harkin, Tom Keane and Dennis Gimes.
We will continue to hold or support events throughout each year and will hold our flagship Soldiering On Awards in March 2013. Many more military support organisations will be supported through our events as we raise more funds, make the public more aware of the existence of such bodies and keep our severely injured service personnel firmly in sight and never forget them.
