SALLY FINDS THE PERFECT INGREDIENT TO HELP HER SON
IN 2009, Captain James Amoore was seriously injured in Afghanistan after stepping on a Taliban mine and being blown 30 feet into the air. Spending four months in hospital, he underwent 15 operations and still faces the prospect of more operations in the future.
But the former platoon commander with 2nd Battalion The Rifles, pictured below, who is now 32 and works as a financial adviser, says the support he received from Help for Heroes during his recovery was “absolutely crucial” – leading to his mum Sally Amoore, of Narberth, Pembrokeshire, raising around £37,000 for the charity since.
Sally has raised the funds from selling cakes since she started supporting Bake for Heroes in 2009 – a campaign which encourages people to hold bake sales with all money raised going to Help for Heroes to support wounded, injured and sick personnel, veterans and their loved ones.
Sally, 67, who is continuing her fundraising and calling on people of Wales to support this year’s Bake for Heroes, said: “James should have been a triple amputee, but he somehow managed to keep all of his limbs.”
She remembers two men wearing regimental ties and suits knocking at her door to deliver the news of her son’s injuries.
She said: “In some ways, we were lucky because our older son Miles was the Afghanistan war correspondent for the Sunday Times, so he was called to the hospital and we were able to hear that Jamie would be OK from him.
“You pray that injuries like this are not going to happen, but sometimes they do. We are incredibly lucky because we still have Jamie.” James, who now works in London, remains among 66,000 ex-military personnel who need support to deal with life-changing injuries and illnesses. He said: “I don’t so much need support from Help for Heroes now, but what they did for my recovery in the initial stage was absolutely crucial. “Some people like myself are very lucky and can crack on with minimal fuss, others are not so lucky. “Even though Afghanistan and Iraq are out of the public eye at the moment there are still people who need continuing access to the fund for prosthetics. “I am very proud of mum, she is pretty dedicated to the Bake for Heroes campaign and has been doing a great job for years.” Sally added: “Many veterans come out of hospital on the mend but down the line their injuries can catch up with them, that’s what Help for Heroes is there for. “These men and women look strong and capable, but behind the brave façade, they face daily challenges. For some, the first challenge of the day is to fit their prosthetic legs or arms. “It is critical we maintain support for them for years and years to come.” Though the official bake sale campaign takes place between April 15 and 30, Sally will be holding her bake sale this year in Narberth’s Townsmoor car park on Saturday, May 6, from 9.30am to 4pm.
It is estimated that more than £850,000 has been raised by Bake for Heroes since 2009, with the aim of breaking through the £1m mark this year.
Money raised will support the work of the four Help for Heroes Recovery Centres, which have been purpose-built and support around 4,000 people every year.
Anyone interested in registering to take part can visit www. bakeforheroes.org.uk or call 01980 846459.