Last year I did a research project for the Royal British Legion into homeless ex-service personnel in Oxford, off the back of this I'm running the London marathon to raise money for the welfare of servicemen past & present...
About the Legion
The Royal British Legion has been safeguarding the welfare, interests and memory of serving and ex-Service people and their families and dependants since 1921.
Each year the Legion answers thousands of calls for help, often from friends and relatives - the veterans in-need frequently being too proud to seek charity.
It helps with a huge range of issues, including counselling, job retraining, skills assessment, getting the right pensions and benefits, advice and interest free loans for setting up small businesses, welfare grants, pilgrimages to war graves, convalescent and nursing care, and home and hospital visits.
In 2008 the Legion spent over £100 million on its work, helping more than 100,000 veterans and their dependents.
The Legion will be needed for as long as people continue to be affected by conflict. It doesn't advocate war but is simply there to support those who have been prepared to make a personal sacrifice through serving in the British Armed Forces.