Marianne and John Sanders who organised a Soldiers Supper and Raised £100,000
One Night - 240 Guests - £100,000 raised - Phenomenal
Our son Col Patrick Sanders did his second tour of duty in Iraq as CO 4 Rifles and Commander of the Battle Group at Basra Palace from May to November 2007. During this period he lost 13 soldiers with 83 wounded and we experienced at first hand, with attendance at funerals and visiting his wounded in hospital, the conditions which led to the founding of Help for Heroes. It seemed a natural follow on from this that we should organise an event to raise money for Help for Heroes.
We felt it important to create a real military atmosphere and if possible to make it Joint Service. The local RAF and Army Cadets (who happened to be Army” Rifles” Cadets) were recruited and 12 in total helped decorate the Hall and served supper for all the guests. The regular Army responded magnificently and under CSM David Evans (again of the “Rifles”) of the London Recruiting Team, covered the whole Hall and entrance in camouflage nets, army posters, Iraq action photos, Iraq action videos and the Help for Heroes 11 minute video. Flags, mock up weapons and 2 Land Rovers were also used to create the perfect atmosphere for the event.
Our guests were in no doubt on arrival that they were entering a military environment !!!! Patrick requested that each table should commemorate one of the soldiers he lost in Basra. Before the event all guests were sent the respective soldiers Eulogy from the MOD website so they had some knowledge of the soldier whose table they were seated at.
The success of the evening surpassed our expectations. We raised more then £30,000.00 before the event so we were hoping to top £40,000.00. At the time of writing we are at £95,190.00 which one of our guests has promised to raise to £100,000.00 and that does not take account of indirect donations made via the local newspapers reporting the event and friends and relatives who could not attend and we know have made donations direct to Help for Heroes.
A fantastic result and thanks to all who made it such a success.
