Pete Rous
In early November 2009 Pete Rous died suddenly aged 25. Pete was a Lieutenant in the Scots Guards undergoing training in the United Kingdom. Pete's tragically early death is a huge loss to his devoted parents Robert and Teresa and to his beloved sister Laura, as well as to his Regiment and to the Army.
Pete was a true gentleman and a brilliant young officer who firmly grasped the essential concept that soldiering must be fun. He was much loved and respected by his soldiers and his brother officers; he was a natural leader who always put his men first and inspired enthusiasm in everyone that he met. While on operations in Iraq he had earned the nickname 'Tigger' on account of his boundless energy and his irrepressible grin!
Marcus, Jimmy and James (Pete's cousin) all thought the world of Pete. They have therefore decided to run the London Marathon for the Army Benevolent Fund in his memory. Pete loved the Army and we believe this to be a thoroughly appropriate and worthwhile cause.
The Charity
For 65 years the Army Benevolent Fund has provided support to serving soldiers, former soldiers and their families in times of need. The Fund's staff work in partnership with Regimental and Corps Benevolent Funds and in co-operation with other Service charities. They identify and investigate eligible cases in real need and provide them with financial support. Recipients of support include people with disabilities or mental illness, people experiencing homelessness or unemployment, and the elderly.
Dependent on voluntary donations, the ABF must currently raise over £7 million each year to continue its vital work with members of the Army Family. Cases are expected to snowball in the coming years as a result of casualties from ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan; last year alone the charity had a 20% increase in calls for help.
JustGiving
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving; they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate; we raise more, while saving time and cutting costs for the charity.
Thank you in advance for your support.
