Hi,

My name is Ben Hardy and I am 11 years old in Year 6 at primary school, severely visually impaired since birth, had ten eye operations. I want to raise money for Moorfields Eye Hospital on Armed Forces Day June 27th, because I've had several glaucoma operations here with the absolute legend who is Mr John Brookes, and have always been so well cared for by the brilliant staff and teams at the Richard Desmond Centre. Gemma and Flossie - big shout out to you, - everyone who has been so kind and helped me and my family along, you are all brilliant inspiring people. I want to say a big thank you and want to try and tell people about all the great work you do, raise awareness and that I am truly grateful for everything you do for me - you really go above and beyond and make a difference. I am so grateful and I am living my best life here and want to give back to you.

So, to fundraise, I am making a free sensory museum on Armed Forces Day celebrations in my town, June 27th, Castle Park in Bishop's Stortford with our local Royal British Legion branch, as a fundraiser for Moorfields and RBL, all about Dunkirk Spirit!

I have researched all year, made a book and interviewed so many inspiring interesting wonderful people all over the UK from museums, finding the real little ships, harbours, RNLI, authors, historians, veterans, family, friends and neighbours. I am exhibiting my sensory Dunkirk exhibition in my local town, Bishop's Stortford, in Castle Park, on June 27th afternoon, as part of our local Armed Forces Day with our amazing branch of RBL. I am truly honoured to be a part of this and have learned all about their amazing work as well. I hope to share the 1940 Dunkirk Story and examples of local Dunkirk Spirit 2026. I have had so much local support which is just amazing, from people helping me with tents and our local museum Bishop's Stortford Museum are lending some objects to touch and our local newspaper The Bishop's Stortford Independent Newspaper have really help spread the word, just like Operation Dynamo back in 1940! I have met with our local RBL and it is amazing how they support veterans and all the fantastic work they do with the Poppy Appeal every year.

I've been up and down the UK all year interviewing amazing people all about the Dunkirk Story 1940 and finding modern day examples of Dunkirk Spirit - which is what you do at Moorfields every day, going above and beyond. And this is a great historical jigsaw link to Moorfields too (which is so personal to me), because Moorfields was the UK hospital who made so many incredible medical advances for blind veterans during and after World War 2, so much eye research was discovered, that is still helping people like me today.

I hope to show people all about the amazing story of Dunkirk 1940 and modern 2026 community examples, in a very sensory way; teamwork, resilience and keep on swimming!

I am so honoured to be a part of Armed Forces Day in my town Bishop's Stortford with the Royal British Legion on June 27th Castle Park 2pm onwards, and everyone is invited, everyone is welcome to my free Dunkirk Spirit Sensory Museum.

Please come along - it is free, everyone is welcome and it would be lovely to meet you and share stories!

Any donations you can give to Moorfields Eye Hospital here I would be so very grateful and I also have a RBL just giving page as well. You guys all have true Dunkirk Spirit every day and I can't thank you all enough.

Your friend (who always bring a joke along),

Ben Hardy

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