Alexandra Hale
Abseiling in memory of my Dad. Captain Mark Hale.
Fundraising for Army Benevolent Fund
Story
I'm raising money for ABF, The Soldiers' Charity who provide vital support to soldiers, veterans and their families in times of need. For Soldiers. For Life; and I am one of those recipients.
August 2009, was the bloodiest year of Operation Herrick, Afghanistan. My Dad was in Helmand Province with his regiment, 2 Rifles, while my sister and I were at home with my mum waiting for him to come home.
My Dad didn't make it. While providing security for Afghan Elders an IED was detonated injuring three of his soldiers; while he was retrieving his boys a second device was triggered. My Dad and his soldiers didn't survive the explosion.
I was an 8 year old whose world imploded, I had no concept of what had happened to my Dad. My mum's overriding determination to try and steady our rocked world, to ensure I stayed at my Prep school. Continuity in a world that had been blown to pieces.
The ABF, The Soldiers' Charity stepped into that void and paid for my schools fees for the next three years, giving me the safety net, security and space that all parents want for their young children. Without their support at such a young age I have no doubt I wouldn't be where I am today, about to hang off a hotel in Belfast as my way of saying 'Thank you’ to a charity that has stayed with my family since that life-changing day in August 2009.
Thank you for your support.
August 2009, was the bloodiest year of Operation Herrick, Afghanistan. My Dad was in Helmand Province with his regiment, 2 Rifles, while my sister and I were at home with my mum waiting for him to come home.
My Dad didn't make it. While providing security for Afghan Elders an IED was detonated injuring three of his soldiers; while he was retrieving his boys a second device was triggered. My Dad and his soldiers didn't survive the explosion.
I was an 8 year old whose world imploded, I had no concept of what had happened to my Dad. My mum's overriding determination to try and steady our rocked world, to ensure I stayed at my Prep school. Continuity in a world that had been blown to pieces.
The ABF, The Soldiers' Charity stepped into that void and paid for my schools fees for the next three years, giving me the safety net, security and space that all parents want for their young children. Without their support at such a young age I have no doubt I wouldn't be where I am today, about to hang off a hotel in Belfast as my way of saying 'Thank you’ to a charity that has stayed with my family since that life-changing day in August 2009.
Thank you for your support.