The Return of Teddy No.2 to Kandahar Airbase ...

Just to keep the focus on our two brave Teddy Bears who flew on combat operations with 617 sqdn over Afghanistan as part of Operation Herrick 16 this Spring tonight I bring you two pictures of Teddy No.2 arriving back at Kandahar Airbase at the end of his long 5 hour sortie in the early morning light.

You can see from the smiles on board the Tornado GR4 that the 617 sqdn team really entered into the full spirit of our efforts to raise cash for Help for Heroes. It is my sincere hope that our two teddies raise and absolute shedload of money for Help for Heroes when they go up for auction at the Birmingham help for Heroes Ball on 3rd November 2012 at the Metropole Hotel, Birmingham.

So he he is, Teddy No.2 - how cool does he look in the back seat of a Tornado GR4 fast jet of perhaps the most famous RAF squadron of them all??

 

Thanks for checking into our blog - much appreciated.

You can support our efforts and donate to Help for Heroes on line at www.bmycharity.com/dambusters2012

Thank you.

This is why Dambusters2012 supports Help for Heroes

Help for Heroes' 5 Key Messages . . .

• It's about 'the blokes': those men and women of our Armed Forces who have been wounded in the service of our country.
• H4H provides direct, practical support for our wounded. We fund projects and initiatives that make a real difference to the lives of our wounded heroes.
• We do not seek to criticise or be political. We just want to help and we work closely with the Army, Navy and RAF to provide support where it is most needed.
• 'Money in, money out'. We pride ourselves on our 'Money In and Money Out' policy that ensures that every penny you raise is spent or allocated to the direct, practical support of our men and women of the Armed Forces whose lives are affected in the line of duty.
• It's about doing your bit, no matter how big or small. Every fundraiser is special to us and can make a real difference, so please keep going!

This is why Dambusters2012 supports Help for Heroes!

 

Collecting in the bucket at Trentham Gardens:

 With motorcycling legend Nick Sanders at Touratech 2012 Travel Event:

 And with my mate Victor Chevens, who is being interviewed by BFBS at The Mohne Dam during our Charity Ride in May 2012

... with every penny going to Help for Heroes.

 

Please support Help for Heroes as I do - www.bmycharity.com/dambusters2012

 

You can donate safely on line and also choose gift aid if you a re a tax payer. Do it today!

 

Thanks.

Teddy No.2 sets off on his night combat mission with the Dambusters!

New photo's of our brave boy Teddy setting off on his night combat sortie over Afghanistan with 617 sqdn, the Dambusters. The whole sortie was flown using night goggles and involved three air to air refueling hook ups!

Dambusters 2012's Help for Heroes teddies will be auctioned at the Birmingham Help for Heroes Ball in November at the Metropole Hotel - book your ticket to have the chance of bidding in the auction for things Money cannot Buy!

If you can't wait that long to support Help for Heroes then visit www.bmycharity.com/dambusters2012 and show your support for this fabulous charity support all our wounded heroes. Thank you.

Two new Photos of Teddy No.1 setting off on combat operations...

Tonight we have two new photos of Teddy No.1, our girl teddy, as she set off with 617 sqdn 'Boss' Wg Cdr Keith Taylor and WSO Flt Lt Jane Pickersgill for her combat operation over Afghanistan on 30th March 2012. How unique a teddy is she then?

Dambusters2012 will be auctioning both our brave Help for Heroes Teddies at the Birmingham help for Heroes Ball on 3rd November 2012 - see http://www.helpforheroesballbirmingham.org.uk/ for full details and to reserve your ticket for this special black tie event. Every penny raised will be going to Help for Heroes, www.helpforheroes.org.uk

If you can't get to the event then go to www.bmycharity.com/dambusters2012 and make a donation to Help for Heroes there instead. It doesn't matter how much or how little, it all goes to support our wounded heroes! Thank you.

Slides 6, 7, and 8.

So here is the remaining slides that we will be using to tell guests at the Birmingham Help for Heroes Ball all about our Teddies just before the auction. http://www.helpforheroesballbirmingham.org.uk/

If you can imagine the slides rolling through automatically with the instrumental of Bittersweet Symphony in the background ...... you get the picture!

Every penny we raise will be going directly to Help for Heroes.

www.bmycharity.com/dambusters2012 - donate on-line.

Slides 4 & 5 .... Help for Heroes Teddy Bears Auction

This evening I am continuing the slides which make up the presentation to support the auction of our Help for Heroes Teddies that flew on combat operations with 617 sqdn, the Dambusters, over Afghanistan in March & April this year.

You will recall the Teddies will be auctioned in the sale of things money cannot buy at the Birmingham Help for Heroes Ball on 3rd November 2012. Every penny of the auction of these two fantastic and unique teddy bears will be going to Help for Heroes. www.helpforheroes.org.uk

 

 

 

 

More slides to follow tomorrow and in the days afterwards.......

Dambusters2012 is all about raising money for Help for Heroes, H4H. Please do take the time to read the information below which is lifted directly from the excellent Help for Heroes website.

Feel moved to help? Visit www.bmycharity.com/dambusters2012 and make a donation today! Thank you.

Who are H4H?

H4H was founded by Bryn and Emma Parry after a visit to the hospital at Selly Oak. It is a charity (Reg no 1120920) which provides direct, practical support, primarily to those wounded in current conflicts. It launched on 1 Oct 2007.

Why was H4H formed?

We don’t care about the rights and wrongs of war but we believe that if young men and women are prepared to volunteer to serve our country on our behalf, and are hurt while doing so, they deserve our support. We want that support to be the best and to be there for life.

What does H4H do?

We raise funds and give grants to;          

• Build capital projects like the £8.5m Rehabilitation Complex at Headley Court, the H4H wing at Combat Stress, the £1 million enhancement of facilities at Blind Veterans UK, Llandudno or the Recovery Centres at Tidworth , Catterick , Colchester and Plymouth.
• Help individuals. Where there is need, we provide immediate support to serving, veterans and their families through our Quick Reaction and our Individual Recovery Programme funds. As at August 2012, Help for Heroes has awarded £4.2m to these funds, helping 2,226 individuals.
• Support Battle Back. We are Founder Patrons and supporters of the MOD Adaptive Sport and Adventurous Training programme, Battle Back which enables our wounded to ‘feel the wind in the face and the sun on the back’. We also support veterans through our Battle Back Phoenix initiative at the Recovery Centres.
• Provide grants to other delivery charities. We give grants to other charities to allow them to deliver services and support.
• Stay in touch. Our Band of Brothers and Band of Sisters fellowships allow us to support the wounded, injured and sick and their nearest and dearest. Current membership (August 2012) of the Band of Brothers stands at 1360 and the Band of Sisters at 720 and these figures are growing daily.

Who do we support?

Our Charitable Objects allow us to support;

• Serving members of the Armed Forces, both regular and reservists and their families.
• Veterans and their families.
• Those under command of the Armed Forces (e.g. journalists or others who are injured while embedded or under command, (i.e. Merchant Navy etc) on a case by case basis.

The urgent need is to support the wounded, injured and sick and their families. As our resources are limited, we have chosen to focus our support on those categories above that have had their lives changed by their service during the current conflicts. This is not exclusive and much of our support (ie to Combat Stress or Blind Veterans UK) also benefits those affected in earlier conflicts. We will always strive to help anyone affected by conflict, within our charitable objects, linking to other Service charities where appropriate. If in doubt, contact us and we will do all we can to help.

Promoting the Teddy Bear Auction, Slide 1 to 3 ...

Ok folks! Over the next few nights you will get a 'slide a day' from the film which will help promote the auction of the Dambusters2012 help for Heroes Teddy Bears which were flown by 617 Squadron on combat sorties over Afghanistan in March/April of this year! Slides 1-3 to get you going tonight!

The teddies will be auctioned at the Birmingham Help for Heroes Ball at the Metropole Hotel, Birmingham on 3rd November 2012.

Don't miss your chance to bid!!

 

Dambusters2012 Teddies over Afghan' calendar...

Delighted to give you advance notice of an exciting development from the Dambusters2012 Help for Heroes Teddies time with 617 sqdn, the Dambusters, in Afghanistan in April/May this year.

We will be producing a calendar for your kitchen wall where you can keep track of all those jobs and birthdays!!

Each month will feature one of the images taken whilst the two help for Heroes Teddies was out in Afghanistan with the Dambusters and on there active service sorties in 617 sqdn's Tornado GR4 fast jets!! More details to follow but this picture will give you the flavour of what the finished calendar will look like.

ALL profits from the calendar will be going directly to Help for Heroes and so to our wounded heroes from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Keep watching the blog for more details and prices.

www.bmycharity.com/dambusters2012