B2L – The Cheque Handover

Today we had a cheque handover event at the Chavasse VC House (the Colchester Personnel Recovery Centre).

Here am I handing over the cheque to Steve Schollar from Help For Heroes who runs the centre:

And here with Marianne West the Essex Help For Heroes co-ordinate and Major Robert Thomas who jointly runs the centre with Steve Schollar:

Also various friends and family were there:

A few people had a go on the trike!

They made me a cake!

Inside the centre (I didn’t take any other photos as I didn’t know if it was allowed)

Whilst we were in the cafeteria eating the cake various people who are staying here came in, reminding me once again why I raised money for this centre.

Oh, and Gift Aid recoveries bring the total to over £3,000. Thanks to so many of you here who sponsored me! And thanks to the staff of the Chavasse VC House who have been amazingly friendly and helpful. That cake was great!

Here is the press release from the MoD:

Charity ride supports wounded soldiers

A disabled woman cycled from Berlin to London to raise money to help put wounded, injured and sick soldiers on the road to recovery.

Helen Hancox, from Great Bromley, Essex, raised £2,501.07 for Help for Heroes to support the charity’s work at Chavasse VC House, Colchester’s Personnel Recovery Centre.

Helen covered the 701 mile journey from the Brandenburg Gate to Trafalgar Square on a recumbent tricycle. The 41-year-old cannot ride a normal bicycle after having metal implants fitted in her left arm as part of treatment for a bone tumour.

Helen said: “I have a disability that places restrictions on my life, but I wanted to demonstrate that disabled people can still do challenges like this. I can’t put weight on my arm, so I cannot grip the handlebars of a normal bike, but still enjoy cycling.

I’d been to Berlin last year and really enjoyed the city and decided to go back this spring and cycle back to London and raise money for charity. When I found out about this centre, my personal circumstances made Help for Heroes the natural charity to support.”

Chavasse VC House, which opened earlier in May, gives wounded, injured and sick soldiers additional care and support to help them successfully return to duties or transition into civilian life. It was funded by Help for Heroes with a significant contribution from The Royal British Legion towards its operating costs.

Help for Heroes centre manager Steve Schollar said: “I would like to thank Helen for her efforts and generous fundraising. She stopped to see the centre on her way from Harwich to London, which was just before we opened, and it’s great to welcome her back now we’re up and running.

The centre is busy and there’s a definite sense that we are making a real difference to the lives of the soldiers we are working with.”

Notes to editors

Chavasse VC House provides facilities to wounded, injured and sick soldiers, additional care and support to help them successfully return to duties or transition into civilian life. It is the first purpose built Personnel Recovery Centre and can accommodate up to 27 personnel, including two families, and a further 30 day attendees. It forms part of the Defence Recovery Capability, an a MOD-led initiative designed to deliver co-ordinated support to wounded, injured and sick Service personnel, delivered in partnership with Help for Heroes and The Royal British Legion.

2 comments

  1. Well done Helen, we’re very proud of you. Sorry we missed the cheque ceremony but it was great to see you arrive safely at Trafalgar Square.

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