Aim of the fund.
The aim of the Appeal is to give enduring support to Light Dragoons wounded on operations or in regimental service, to their families, and to the families of those killed on duty.
Major General ARE de C Stewart CB CBE, Colonel of the Regiment
As we draw The Colonel’s Appeal to a close I am writing both to thank those of you who have so generously contributed and to let everyone know how much we have raised and how the money is being used.
Thanks to the huge efforts of both individuals and Regional Branches in the North East, South Yorkshire, Norfolk, London and the South West, the money raised for The Colonel’s Appeal currently stands at an amazing £856,000. With one or two quite large events still to come we expect to reach around £900,000 by the middle of 2013. Thus the Appeal has more than doubled the amount of charitable money controlled by the trustees for supporting past and present members of The Light Dragoons and our antecedent regiments.
Funds Raised so Far
£887,000 raised and
£20,000 In pledges.
as at 1st May 2013
The Light Dragoons Colonel's Appeal Fund is centrally controlled and held within the Light Dragoons Charitable Fund.
Registered charity No. 1041982.
Light Dragoons website
Most importantly the Appeal has allowed us to react immediately in support of both those soldiers recently wounded in Afghanistan and also those in need who have served there, in Bosnia or in Iraq over the past 20 years. At the same time we have done what we can to help affected families. This has seen over £34,000 being spent this period on more than 70 separate cases, ranging from helping provide removal costs not covered by the MOD, to hiring family accommodation in the UK for relatives visiting from overseas over Christmas, to funding civilian employment training courses and specialist equipment, to a Christmas gift to children under the age of 18 of those killed on operations and in service over the last few years. Without the Appeal we would have been unable to do any of this. What is more, we now have the funds to provide “enduring” support over the years ahead when we know that many demands will be placed upon us.
Because the Appeal has been so successful the Trustees have decided that it will come to a formal close over the weekend of the Cavalry Memorial Parade in May 2013, although this does not mean that those who wish to should not continue to raise money for the Appeal. We remain short of our £1,000,000 target and further contributions would be really wonderful. So, if you have not yet contributed – or even if you have – and feel that you might be able to afford a donation please send a cheque made out to The Colonel’s Appeal to Home Headquarters.
If you have donated may I thank you most sincerely on behalf of all the trustees and all those who will benefit from your generosity in the years ahead. This has been a truly magnificent effort by a family regiment and reflects so much of all that we stand for.
How Can You Help Further? My last plea is that every one of us looks out for past comrades in arms who might need support from the Appeal now or in the future. It is often Association Members who can identify the needy because a friend suddenly drops out of sight, or through a chance meeting or from picking up word of people in trouble. If you see or hear of any past member of the regiment who might need help please let Major Mel Tazey or Captain Dicky Bird know as soon as possible so that Home Headquarters can follow up and provide support.
