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| Wounded soldiers appeal started | Wounded soldiers appeal started |
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| An £8m appeal has been launched to improve facilities for the growing number of wounded UK service personnel. | An £8m appeal has been launched to improve facilities for the growing number of wounded UK service personnel. |
| A "non-political" charity, Help for Heroes, wants to build a gym and full-sized pool at Headley Court rehabilitation centre in Surrey. | A "non-political" charity, Help for Heroes, wants to build a gym and full-sized pool at Headley Court rehabilitation centre in Surrey. |
| It is the idea of cartoonist Bryn Parry who served in The Royal Green Jackets. | It is the idea of cartoonist Bryn Parry who served in The Royal Green Jackets. |
| He said he had been "profoundly humbled" meeting soldiers and staff at Selly Oak hospital, Birmingham, the first stop for injured service people. | He said he had been "profoundly humbled" meeting soldiers and staff at Selly Oak hospital, Birmingham, the first stop for injured service people. |
| General Sir Richard Dannatt, Chief of the General Staff, is a trustee for the appeal and said there was an increased need for public support to improve facilities. | General Sir Richard Dannatt, Chief of the General Staff, is a trustee for the appeal and said there was an increased need for public support to improve facilities. |
| "As our operational commitments have become more intense, so the need for support from the nation has grown," he said. | "As our operational commitments have become more intense, so the need for support from the nation has grown," he said. |
| We would question why this needs to be delivered through the charitable sector rather than the government Sue Freeth | We would question why this needs to be delivered through the charitable sector rather than the government Sue Freeth |
| "Help for Heroes gives the public a practical way to demonstrate their support for those serving our country." | "Help for Heroes gives the public a practical way to demonstrate their support for those serving our country." |
| The charity's first planned fund-raising event, a 320-mile bike ride through World War I and World War II battlefields in France, is scheduled to take place in May next year. | The charity's first planned fund-raising event, a 320-mile bike ride through World War I and World War II battlefields in France, is scheduled to take place in May next year. |
| Mr Parry said: "I just feel we ought to be showing we care and appreciate these brave young men. | Mr Parry said: "I just feel we ought to be showing we care and appreciate these brave young men. |
| "We owe a debt to these people and we need to ensure that if they are injured then they get the very best of care to help them overcome any disability." | "We owe a debt to these people and we need to ensure that if they are injured then they get the very best of care to help them overcome any disability." |
| A new 30-bed ward has been added to the existing 170 beds at Headley Court in July to cope with the growing numbers of forces personnel injured in Iraq and Afghanistan. | |
| In August, plans to turn a £1.7m house in nearby Ashtead into a "home from home" for families of injured service personnel were approved by the local council. | |
| Gen Sir Richard Dannat is backing the Help for Heroes appeal | Gen Sir Richard Dannat is backing the Help for Heroes appeal |
| Sue Freeth, the Royal British Legion's director of welfare, said improvements to rehabilitation facilities were "urgently needed". | Sue Freeth, the Royal British Legion's director of welfare, said improvements to rehabilitation facilities were "urgently needed". |
| But she added that the new charity raised questions over the government's approach to caring for the wounded. | But she added that the new charity raised questions over the government's approach to caring for the wounded. |
| "We would question why this needs to be delivered through the charitable sector rather than it being a top funding priority for the government." | "We would question why this needs to be delivered through the charitable sector rather than it being a top funding priority for the government." |
| Defence minister Derek Twigg said the government had invested heavily to make Headley Court a "world-class" facility. | Defence minister Derek Twigg said the government had invested heavily to make Headley Court a "world-class" facility. |
| "The offer of extra funding from Help for Heroes is very welcome," he said. | "The offer of extra funding from Help for Heroes is very welcome," he said. |
| "It will allow us to further improve the quality of life of patients at Headley Court." | "It will allow us to further improve the quality of life of patients at Headley Court." |