Blood Sweat & Gears, the team of endurance cyclists spearheaded by Mark Stephenson, PWS’ chief executive, has been recognised with a Hero Award, thanks to its record-breaking success.
Blood, Sweat and Gears successfully undertook a 500km cycling challenge across South Africa which it was hoped, through sponsorship, would raise £250,000 for Help for Heroes, of which Mark is a long-term supporter. However, thanks to donations, the tally grew to an incredible £314,000, making it the highest amount in 2016 of any singular, third-party fundraising challenge donated to Help For Heroes.
In recognition of this phenomenal achievement, Blood, Sweat and Gears has received the Charity’s Hero Award for Extraordinary Teams. The money raised by the team will fund three additional wellbeing advisors over three years for the charity’s psychological wellbeing program. The programme delivers early intervention mental health support for wounded, injured and sick veterans and their families.
The Hero Awards were launched in 2010, by Help for Heroes’ co-founders Bryn and Emma Parry, as a way to thank the extraordinary supporters for voluntarily going above and beyond and giving up their time to assist the charity in delivering life-long support to wounded heroes.
Bryn Parry, CEO and co-founder of Help for Heroes said: “For those suffering an injury or illness due to service, their recovery can last a lifetime. Knowing they have remarkable organisations like PWS standing beside them, willing to do amazing things, will make a huge difference on their recovery journeys. Together we are rebuilding lives, so thank you and please keep doing your bit for ‘the blokes’.”
Mark was proud to accept a Hero Award in 2013, when he was recognised for his generous donation of four purpose-designed self-help kitchens to Phoenix House, the new Recovery Centre at Catterick and three further kitchens to the Endeavour Recovery Centre at HMS Drake in Plymouth. PWS is committed to ongoing support of the charity, through regular vocational training visits from veterans from Phoenix House, the Help For Heroes Recovery Centre at Catterick. The focus of the visits is to offer opportunities to appreciate not only the types of employment available but also to gain a wider understanding of both the differences and similarities between military and civilian employment
