Major General Jamie Balfour, President, The RGJ Regimental Association
Dear Fellow Riflemen,
With all The Rifles battalions now deploying again to Afghanistan over the next 18 months, I am writing to update you all on the Rifles’ Care for Casualties (C4C) appeal as the fundraising needs to continue and as a Fellow Rifleman I would like to ask you for your specific help.
For those of you who have not received a letter from me already, I would be very grateful if you could read the attached letter and see if you can help in any way you can. To all those of you who have already responded to this appeal my apologies for sending this to you again, but thank you so much for what you have done, Riflemen and their families in need will hugely benefit from your support, and the Regiment is extremely grateful for your contribution.
During the first four years of its history, since 2007, The Rifles have lost 56 Riflemen Killed in Action, and over 290 have suffered serious injury. 26 of these have lost limbs, three of whom have lost three of their limbs each and eight, two. Two men are fully blinded and three are in neurological units, suffering brain damage. They need our help and support as do their families and the bereaved. We know that, as a result, the welfare requirement is rising as individual needs are clarified and develop. In 2010 alone the Regiment spent over £103,000 from the money raised by C4C in support of these individuals, and a further £330,000 spent by the Rifles Benevolent Trust to 691 other cases including veterans. Thus the level of first line Regimental financial support will have to increase further, not only for today`s campaigns but for all those that went before and that we were ourselves involved in
The C4C appeal now has a strong team mostly made up of volunteers but with a full time Casualty Officer and fundraiser. Please look at www.careforcasualties.org.uk to see what they are achieving. Having raised £800,000 in the first year, they have set themselves the target of raising £800,000 in each of the second and third years of the appeal, and to raise £4 million by the end of 2014.
Of the money raised, 49% has been committed to the immediate needs of the casualties with the remainder being earmarked for longer term needs of Riflemen, both past and present. Whilst the MoD provides invaluable assistance to the wounded and bereaved, it is clear that given it`s constraints the State can only provide a basic level of support. As a result, the money raised to date has been used on adapting cars and houses, retraining injured Riflemen, counselling Riflemen and their family members and on rehabilitation or recuperation breaks for the wounded or bereaved. These are examples of what C4C can achieve and make a huge impact on enhancing the lives of those who have given so much. If you have not already done so, would you please consider contributing towards C4C? A proforma to record your donation is attached HERE, with Gift Aid and standing order forms available on the C4C Resources page. If you can, please consider a legacy to C4C in your Will.
Rather than, or in addition to, making a donation, perhaps you might consider organising an event sometime over the next two years? These can raise from £100 to £50,000 per event and could be: hosting a dinner, organising a corporate and larger charity event or evening, a drinks party, or an event supported by the local community and press. C4C can support events through providing branding, PR advice, access to serving soldiers (as speakers) and potential military linked prizes for auctions (such as Boxing nights, Mess dinners etc.) Once you have come up with an idea, please contact Rebecca Maciejewska, the Appeal Coordinator, c4c@the-rifles.co.uk or 07947 639171. If you have a relationship with a commercial company or foundation which may be able to support the appeal in one way or another, please would you contact Roger Morgan-Grenville, rmg@dexam.co.uk, who is coordinating this area of the appeal effort? As well as being an ex-Green Jacket, Roger also ran the fundraising of Help for Heroes for its first year.
Thank you for your support. There can be no worthier cause than supporting our Riflemen and their families in their hour of need, after they have risked their lives over the years on our behalf.
