Why we must all help our brave heroes
AND FINALLY
RARELY do I feel involved with sport, although I always want the Union Jack to triumph. But last week I watched a certain cycling race, heart thumping, shouting support.
The event, in Prince Harry’s inspirational Invictus Games, was hand cycling. And the competitor was my grandson’s godfather, Steve Arnold, vicecaptain of the UK team. How thrilling it was when he took gold.
Steve was a Staff Sergeant with 28 Engineer Regiment when he lost both his legs above the knee, stepping on an IED while leading a search team in Afghanistan in April 2011.
Broken, but indomitable, he fought back — and only a couple of months later, he’d taken up hand cycling through the Help For Heroes Sports Recovery Programme and was selected by the British Cycling Development Team.
He’s now turned his attention to Para Nordic skiing, with his sights set on the next Paralympic Games. He’s an inspiring ‘advertisement’ for the charity Help For Heroes ( helpfor
heroes.org.uk) which is celebrating its tenth anniversary.
In that time it has supported 17,267 men and women — veterans with physical and/or psychological problems and it has also granted £37 million to other specialist charities.
All this is only possible as people endlessly raise funds to make a life-changing difference to incredible individuals such as Steve. And there is no end to the ongoing need. Medical discharges from the Armed Forces are at the highest level for three years.
I’m ashamed to say that until my daughter married a soldier I knew little of these matters. Now I feel passionate about the need to support all those who serve our country, especially when they suffer life-changing injuries as a result.
Prince Harry’s uplifting speeches made me cry, but he’d be the first to agree that the wounded need all of us to help them to become Invictus — unvanquished.
Bel answers readers’ questions on emotional and relationship problems each week. Write to Bel Mooney, Daily Mail, 2 Derry Street, london W8 5TT, or email bel.mooney@dailymail.co.uk. A pseudonym will be used if you wish. Bel reads all letters but regrets she cannot enter into personal correspondence.