Veterans show off charity’s kit
A NEW Help for Heroes rugby clothing range has been launched by Welsh veterans from across South Wales.
Darren Carew, an Afghanistan veteran, was among those chosen to model the new kit at an Ospreys Wheelchair Rugby training session in Merthyr Tydfil.
Darren, 40, who grew up in Cardiff, enlisted in the Royal Regiment of Wales in 1998 but in Afghanistan in 2005 the armoured vehicle he was travelling in rolled over an explosive device, injuring him and two members of his team. He sustained injuries leading to the loss of his left leg.
Thanks to the support of Help for Heroes Darren is now in a much better place and even went on to represent Team GB at the Warrior Games.
Darren is now the disability rugby coordinator for the Welsh Rugby Union, rolling out a sports programme to hundreds of children and adults across Wales as well as working closely with Help for Heroes in delivering wheelchair rugby sessions in Swansea and Newport.
“We get to have a real impact. I found my sense of worth which has helped me recover mentally from leaving the military,” Darren added.
Joining Darren was husband and wife Paul and Jayne Jenkins. Paul is head coach of the Ospreys Wheelchair Rugby team as well as the UK Invictus and Help for Heroes Warrior Games teams.
Paul, from Bridgend, got involved in wheelchair rugby following an accident which left him as a permanent wheelchair user following his military career in the 1970s.
Paul, 63, served for six years in the Welsh Guards but within a year of leaving he had a motorbike accident which broke his neck. He went along to a trial wheelchair rugby session and soon got hooked on the game.
Since then, he has proudly represented his country at the Paralympics and European Championships. He now works with several veterans to help them cope with their lives after leaving the military.
Wheelchair rugby has proved a real success for a lot of veterans, including Bruce Falkenberg, who was also chosen to star in the campaign.
Bruce, who is originally from Zimbabwe but now lives in Maesteg, was medically discharged from the Royal Regiment of Wales following several injuries and operations which led him to Help for Heroes.
It was during his time in rehabilitation when he found his love for wheelchair rugby and he has since gone on to attend the UK Invictus trials in Sheffield where he won medals in wheelchair rugby and shotpot.
The 41-year-old said playing wheelchair rugby has helped him grow both physically and mentally, and he is very grateful to Help for Heroes for introducing him to the sport.
■ The Help for Heroes rugby kit is now available at shop.helpforheroes.org.uk