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SARUM U3A
The September coffee morning was opened by the chairman Gordon Pardy, who reminded us that this was the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, when the RAF shot down 176 German bombers for the loss of 25 planes. Today was also the anniversary of the 1984 birth of Prince Harry and the death, in 1859, of Isambard Kingdom Brunel. He then welcomed the speaker, Fiona Gilbert, Wiltshire Co-ordinator for Help the Heroes. She explained that the purpose of the Charity was to provide support for wounded service men and women and their families. There was a short film detailing how the Charity was set up by Emma and Bryan Parry, after a visit to Selly Oak Hospital (where service personnel are brought after repatriation from war theatre), in 2007. The fund has raised £65M, of which £57M has already been passed to projects through a very fast (72 hours) application procedure. The money is raised by large "challenge", sporting and musical events and also by small individual dontations. Early funds were used to build a swimming pool and exercise complex at Hedley Court ,where recovering individuals are transferred after completion of their hospital treatment, for psychological and physical therapy. It is largely a web-based charity. Additionally there is a trading arm based in Downton ,the profits from which covers all the running costs of the Charity and even then has a 10% profit. Thus funding of projects is 110% of all funds raised! Fiona was thanked for a very informative and, at times, emotional talk.

SARUM U3A

The September coffee morning was opened by the chairman Gordon Pardy, who reminded us that this was the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, when the RAF shot down 176 German bombers for the loss of 25 planes.

Today was also the anniversary of the 1984 birth of Prince Harry and the death, in 1859, of Isambard Kingdom Brunel. He then welcomed the speaker, Fiona Gilbert, Wiltshire Co-ordinator for Help the Heroes. She explained that the purpose of the Charity was to provide support for wounded service men and women and their families.

There was a short film detailing how the Charity was set up by Emma and Bryan Parry, after a visit to Selly Oak Hospital (where service personnel are brought after repatriation from war theatre), in 2007.

The fund has raised £65M, of which £57M has already been passed to projects through a very fast (72 hours) application procedure. The money is raised by large "challenge", sporting and musical events and also by small individual dontations.

Early funds were used to build a swimming pool and exercise complex at Hedley Court ,where recovering individuals are transferred after completion of their hospital treatment, for psychological and physical therapy.

It is largely a web-based charity. Additionally there is a trading arm based in Downton ,the profits from which covers all the running costs of the Charity and even then has a 10% profit. Thus funding of projects is 110% of all funds raised!

Fiona was thanked for a very informative and, at times, emotional talk.

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