THE NATIONAL President of Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland has visited the Troop Aid headquarters in Shirley on his tour of the Midlands.
Peter King and his wife Di were escorted by the Rotary District Governor John Crawford.
When troops are injured on exercise or return injured to the United Kingdom from war zones, they arrive back without their personal effects or clothing. The visitors were able to hear for themselves how the charity supports injured service personnel by providing each with a Grab Bag of basic essentials.
Items in the Grab Bag include T-shirt and shorts, washing and shaving kit, towel, face flannel, toothpaste, toothbrush, shower mules, socks, underwear, pen and paper. Grab Bags are also provided for injured female service personnel.
Grab Bags are currently being used in the Field Hospital in Cyprus, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham and the Ministry of Defence Hospital Units in Plymouth, Portsmouth, Frimley Park Hospital in Camberley, Medical Centre ITC Catterick Garrison and MDHU Northallerton. More recent deliveries have been to Kenya, Mali and to Sierra Leone.
Troop Aid’s Chairman and founder, Al Sutton said: “It was great that the Rotary District Governor John Crawford could bring Peter King and his wife Di to see around the Troop Aid headquarters, as we know what a busy schedule they have had here in the Midlands.
“We were able to explain to them the work that the charity does in supporting injured service personnel, and they even did some Grab Bag packing!
“We’re actually busier now than we were at the height of the Iraq/Afghanistan crisis.
“The Troop Aid Grab Bags are being sent to destinations all over the world.”
A registered charity, Troop Aid’s patron is HRH The Prince of Wales.
Troop Aid is funded by donations and receives no government support. Anyone interested in finding out more about Troop Aid and to learn how they might offer support should telephone 0121 711 7215 or go to their website at www.troopaid.info. Donations can be sent to: Troop Aid, 21 Radway Road, Shirley, Solihull ?West Midlands, B90 4NR.
