Supporting Troop Aid
Imagine for one moment that you are far from home, badly injured, without a change of clothes, without all the basic necessities that make you feel normal. Imagine that you are highly emotional, tired, dirty and missing your family when you are told that your return home has been delayed and that you are going to have an enforced over night stay at an airfield. Imagine how you would feel; how low, how despondent. In such circumstances small gestures can mean a lot, which is why Castle Bromwich and District Lions support Troop Aid.
"The chance to clean their teeth, wash their hair or put on a clean pair of socks when putting up with an unplanned diversion or overnight stop is a simple thing that helps them carry on and feel loved"
In 2009 we provided packs of basic clothing and toiletries to be supplied to our injured soldiers both in Afghanistan and at Selly Oak hospital. We received a thank you from Troop Aid, as you might expect, but were very surprised in September to receive a personal letter from Wing Commander Green, a Medical Officer with the Ministry of Defence, who had recently been involved in the repatriation of British casualties from the hospital at Camp Bastion, to the UK.
During the evacuation, the medical team and patients had an enforced overnight stop at Kandahar Airfield without personal kit. They were issued packs prepared and donated by Castle Bromwich Lions Club and Wing Commander Green wrote to thank us and let us know what a difference such gestures make and what a profound impact it has on those on the receiving end to know that people at home are thinking about them. "The chance to clean their teeth, wash their hair or put on a clean pair of socks when putting up with an unplanned diversion or overnight stop is a simple thing that helps them carry on and feel loved"
We were very moved by Wing Commander Green's letter. The positive feedback and knowing that we are making a difference spurred us on to supply further parcels. Each Troop Aid Parcel contained the following: 2 t shirts, 2 pr boxer shorts, 2 pr socks, hand towel, flannel, shampoo, handwash, toothpaste, tooth brush, deodorant, shaving foam, 2 razors, comb. The first lot went out to Afghanistan and the second to Selly Oak Hospital.
