Blood Sweat & Gears, PWS’ charity project in aid of Help For Heroes, has drawn to a record-breaking close. The original target of £250,000, set by PWS’ CEO Mark Stephenson, had already been exceeded when the 500km cycling challenge concluded in South Africa in May. However, following further donations and events, the tally grew to £314,000, beating the target by £64,000.
It is the highest amount this year any singular, third-party fundraising challenge has donated to Help For Heroes.
The vision for the project has now been realised as Help For Heroes has confirmed the money will fund three additional psychological wellbeing advisors for three years, helping wounded, injured and sick service personnel, veterans and their families. This is a significant investment, and the importance of this donation is backed not only by research but also by the positive results of work undertaken by the two advisors already working at Phoenix House, the Help For Heroes Northern Recovery Centre.
Melanie Dickinson, interim centre manager, says: “It is probably fair to say that invisible injures from war, conflict and trauma require, perhaps, the most long-term investment. And that is why it is important to have the staff required to provide that support going forward. We never doubted that Mark, PWS and all their supporters would reach their huge target of £250,000, but for them to surpass it, by so much, is simply outstanding. It will go a long way to supporting beneficiaries with mental illness, enabling us to help change more lives and, in some cases, save lives.”
Mark comments: “I extend my heartfelt and sincere thanks to our suppliers, customers and the truly Great British public who embraced my pie-in-the-sky idea. They were behind us all the way and ensured that Blood Sweat & Gears exceeded all expectations.”
