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Dave Bradley's Fundraising Page

Lara Bradley is raising money for Help for Heroes

Participants: Steve Vinall, Gary Craggs, Declan Sibley, Shane Willoughby, Nick Serle

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Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race · 5 February 2008

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RCN 1120920 (England & Wales), SC044984 (Scotland)
Veterans & their families face their toughest battles yet. Painful injuries. Mental trauma. Disability. Isolation. Our life-changing services support them. From physical & mental health care, to help with welfare & medical needs. Your fundraising ensures they get this specialist support for life.

Story

JOB DONE!

27 hrs 35 mins after leaving Devizes we crossed the finish line opposite the Palace of Westminster; cold, tired, exhausted but elated.  We'd done it!

The whole team was brilliant; paddlers and support crew working non-stop to get us to the finish.

Thank you very much to all those who have donated so far and to those that haven't there is still time.  We might have reached our £12000 but we really want to raise as much as possible!

In 2004 I was badly wounded in Iraq, in fact the doctor only gave me a 5% chance of survival, but because of the excellent work of the medical staff at the Field Hospital and in the UK I made it.  Having survived I then needed an intensive period of physical rehabilitation to try to get used to my wounds and that is where Headley Court  came in.

This fantastic place got me back a level of function I never expected and allowed me to get on with life.  Sadly there are many other servicemen still getting wounded and Help for Heroes is raising money to improve the facilities at Headley Court and support them whenever possible.  Many of us wanted to recognise this and do something to say thank you and as I was hit in my hand, shoulder and chest a canoe marathon seemed the obvious way to check that what was left still worked!

The Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race is a non-stop 125 mile paddle along the Kennet and Avon Canal and River Thames that will take approximately 30 hours.  It is done as a team with paddlers and support crew.   My paddling partner is an old friend, Steve Vinall, and the essential support crew is Gary Craggs, Declan Sibley, Nick Serle and Shane Willoughby, who himself was badly wounded in Iraq but has worked hard to get himself fit.  Together we want to finish the race and raise as much as possible for H4H.

Thank you for visiting this fundraising page. Please dig deep and sponsor us online.

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor us: Help for Heroes will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.

So please sponsor us now!

Many thanks for your support.

Donation summary

Total
£18,670.00
+ £2,855.91 Gift Aid
Online
£13,300.00
Offline
£5,370.00

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