General takes to skies for good cause
Eastern Daily Press
05 September 2008
Britain's top soldier is set to take a leap of faith - as he prepares to complete his first ever parachute jump.
General Sir Richard Dannatt will take to the skies with the Red Devils on Monday as he looks to raise thousands of pounds for the Help for Heroes campaign.
The chief of general staff, who has lived in Norfolk for 35 years, is a trustee of the charity which provides help for wounded soldiers. Sir Richard told the EDP he decided to do his bit to boost the fund after seeing the hard-work of supporters across the country.
And while a lifetime in the army has equipped him well for new challenges, he admitted the idea went against the grain for a man who has spent his career on terra firma.
Sir Richard said: âI have spent my life in the army and in the infantry with my feet firmly rooted to the ground and so I have not done a parachute jump before. It will be an interesting experience.â
Joining him on the jump will be his 18-year-old daughter Richenda, daughter-in-law Emma and friend Jo Edwards. Each will complete a tandem jump with a member of the Red Devils parachute display team at Netheravon airfield in Wiltshire.
âThis is a really important cause as the range and variety of threats to our security have multiplied and the army is being used for different purposes, further afield than we might have expected a few years ago, and in very demanding operational circumstances,â he said.
âTo succeed, the army adheres to its values and standards of selfless commitment, courage, discipline, integrity, loyalty and respect for others. These are characteristics that are demonstrated amply by those who have been wounded whilst serving the nation.
âBut the army is drawn from a democratic society and cannot be sustained without the support of that society. We would rapidly wither if we lost the support that we currently enjoy from the nation. The donations that Help for Heroes and other service charities have received shows just how strong that support is.
âBut I did not feel that I could just watch the efforts of thousands of determined supporters, both here and overseas, have helped provide funds that are being used to support our wounded servicemen and their families and so I have decided that I should raise some money through a personal effort.â
Help for Heroes projects include building a new swimming pool at gym at the Tri-Service Rehabilitation Centre in Surrey and contributing to the costs of a house for visiting relatives at Selly Oak hospital in Birmingham.
Sir Richard said: âWhilst the risks of sport parachuting are small compared to those that are faced by our soldiers - especially the Colchester based 16 Air Assault Brigade who are in Afghanistan at present - it does represent a good way to raise money for a good cause.
âI would like to urge all readers of the EDP to back Help for Heroes and the armed forces genuinely appreciate your support.â
To sponsor Sir Richard visit http://justgiving.com/richardandrichenda or for more information on Help for Heroes visit www.EDP24.co.uk/dailylinks
http://new.edp24.co.uk/search/story...9:59:26:653&tBrand=EDPOnline&tCategory=search
Eastern Daily Press
05 September 2008
Britain's top soldier is set to take a leap of faith - as he prepares to complete his first ever parachute jump.
General Sir Richard Dannatt will take to the skies with the Red Devils on Monday as he looks to raise thousands of pounds for the Help for Heroes campaign.
The chief of general staff, who has lived in Norfolk for 35 years, is a trustee of the charity which provides help for wounded soldiers. Sir Richard told the EDP he decided to do his bit to boost the fund after seeing the hard-work of supporters across the country.
And while a lifetime in the army has equipped him well for new challenges, he admitted the idea went against the grain for a man who has spent his career on terra firma.
Sir Richard said: âI have spent my life in the army and in the infantry with my feet firmly rooted to the ground and so I have not done a parachute jump before. It will be an interesting experience.â
Joining him on the jump will be his 18-year-old daughter Richenda, daughter-in-law Emma and friend Jo Edwards. Each will complete a tandem jump with a member of the Red Devils parachute display team at Netheravon airfield in Wiltshire.
âThis is a really important cause as the range and variety of threats to our security have multiplied and the army is being used for different purposes, further afield than we might have expected a few years ago, and in very demanding operational circumstances,â he said.
âTo succeed, the army adheres to its values and standards of selfless commitment, courage, discipline, integrity, loyalty and respect for others. These are characteristics that are demonstrated amply by those who have been wounded whilst serving the nation.
âBut the army is drawn from a democratic society and cannot be sustained without the support of that society. We would rapidly wither if we lost the support that we currently enjoy from the nation. The donations that Help for Heroes and other service charities have received shows just how strong that support is.
âBut I did not feel that I could just watch the efforts of thousands of determined supporters, both here and overseas, have helped provide funds that are being used to support our wounded servicemen and their families and so I have decided that I should raise some money through a personal effort.â
Help for Heroes projects include building a new swimming pool at gym at the Tri-Service Rehabilitation Centre in Surrey and contributing to the costs of a house for visiting relatives at Selly Oak hospital in Birmingham.
Sir Richard said: âWhilst the risks of sport parachuting are small compared to those that are faced by our soldiers - especially the Colchester based 16 Air Assault Brigade who are in Afghanistan at present - it does represent a good way to raise money for a good cause.
âI would like to urge all readers of the EDP to back Help for Heroes and the armed forces genuinely appreciate your support.â
To sponsor Sir Richard visit http://justgiving.com/richardandrichenda or for more information on Help for Heroes visit www.EDP24.co.uk/dailylinks
http://new.edp24.co.uk/search/story...9:59:26:653&tBrand=EDPOnline&tCategory=search
