Last Saturday Ospreys fans dug deep, to help support their local heroes.
Help for Heroes has become, in the words of the Prime Minister, a 'National Institution' and it is hard to believe we only started this in October 2007. Since then we have raised £1 million a month to help support our wounded servicemen and women injured in the current conflicts. We have done that with your help. This has really been something very simple, a group of friends who wanted to do something to help, that message communicated to others who have joined in and made this the success it so obviously is.
This is not about politics, there is no need to criticise or complain, why moan about it being dark when you can light a candle? We may have started something but thousands have joined us to make this what it is today. This is about ordinary decent people wanting to do their bit to help, to raise money by joining in and so creating something that has become rather wonderful.
Over the last few weeks we have seen this support building into a a huge, unstoppable wave. The RFU hosted the Rugby Challenge Match at Twickenham and 52,000 of you cheered on the Rugby Legends and raised over £1.3m. A business man decided to do his bit and paid £1.5m to fly with the RAF's Red Arrows. The finalists of Simon Cowell's X Factor joined in and sung Hero which has become the fastest selling record of the decade. Even James Bond has signed up with over £500,000 raised for H4H and the Poppy appeal at the Royal Premier of Quantum of Solace.
There are thousands of events happening all over the country as people decide to show their support, people who are prepared to get on and do something, to light a candle in the dark. All of us at Help for Heroes are staggered by the support and would like to say thank you to all of you who have made this work..... Now keep going!
During the Ospreys v Leincester Tigers, Heineken Cup encounter on Saturday staff at Persimmon Homes took part in a fundraising kicking competition, where every successful kick from the 22m line generate £50 for their chosen charity, Help the Heroes. £500 was raised from this event alone.
Sharon Robinson, sales director for Persimmon Homes Wales said :
"We were excited to take part in this unique opportunity provided by the Ospreys. It's not everyday you get to step onto the pitch at the Liberty stadium in front of thousands of people and everyone participating in the kicking competition certainly appreciated what the players at the Ospreys go through every time they play a game.
"We raised £500 for our chosen charity, Help for Heroes, which is such a worthy cause. By taking part in the challenge we lent our support to those service personnel who have been wounded in Britain's current conflicts.
"We are grateful to everyone who has sponsored us and special thanks also go the Ospreys for inviting us to their stadium for what proved to be a great opportunity to raise money for charity."
As well as the kicking competition at half time, you may have seen the Military stand out side the Liberty Stadium, West Stand.
Help The Heroes were present selling key rings, stickers and the ever popular wristbands, all for only £2 each. For every item purchased fans were given a raffle ticket which was pulled at half time, to win a signed shirt by the Ospreys team. Over £1000 was raised through the stall alone and everone at the Ospreys and Help the Heroes, would like to thank all our loyal fans for their support.