An Army veteran from Lincolnshire is asking local people to send a message of hope to our veterans this Christmas, to show again that they value our service men and women.
Last December, thousands of messages of support for veterans were posted online on the Help for Heroes Message Wall and the Charity is hoping that people from Lincolnshire will respond again.
Tom Folwell, age 40, who lives in Horncastle said: “Veterans can sometimes feel they are forgotten by society. And if they’re living with physical injuries, disabilities or mental illness they can become isolated – and especially at Christmas, their mental health can spiral down even further.
“The messages left by members of the public last year were so heart-warming. It would be great if we could get as many messages of hope as possible from people across Lincolnshire, which will show all our veterans that their service hasn’t been forgotten. Leaving a message is easy to do and there’s no cost involved.”
Tom was blown up in 2012, while on foot-patrol in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He lost both his legs, the left leg through the knee and the right leg above the knee, and the tops of his fingers on his left-hand. Since his injury, Tom has also developed sleep apnoea, which affects his wellbeing. Through Help for Heroes, he’s developed a love of wheelchair rugby and has captained the GB team at the Invictus Games.
Tom added: “I have experienced periods of isolation and loneliness since leaving the Forces, and I know other veterans who have felt the same. For me, it tends to creep up during quieter times of the year. It can impact confidence and general wellbeing, and at times makes it feel harder to reach out, even to people close by.
“I received a Christmas card from the Charity. Reading a personal message from a member of the public genuinely meant a lot, it was a reminder that people still think about and appreciate veterans, even those they’ve never met. It brought a real sense of connection at a time of year that can feel difficult.
“Because no one who served their country should feel alone, forgotten, or left behind this Christmas.”
The Office for Veterans Affairs and Family Survey published in June this year, shows that nearly one in three veterans who live in the UK experience loneliness1. Last winter, requests for support to Help for Heroes were 25 per cent above average2.
The Charity is aiming to send over 10,000 Christmas cards to veterans again this year, which will include messages of support from members of the public.
Latest data shows that Lincolnshire and the surrounding areas are home to more than 44,800 veterans. If you would like to add your own message of support to the Help for Heroes Message Wall, or make a donation, then go to https://sendamessage.helpforheroes.org.uk/
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