Help RAFA support veterans

PEOPLE throughout Carrickfergus are being urged to back The Royal Air Forces Association’s annual Battle of Britain Wings Appeal.

Since 1943 the Association has played an important part in providing welfare support and relief for a large number of veterans who served in the Royal Air Forces, and their families. Last year the charity responded to over 25,000 calls for help and that number is steadily rising as those who are eligible for help become older.

“Well over half of those who qualify for our help are now aged over 80, mainly those from the World War II generation, or their widows and dependants. Some are disabled and an increasing number are desperately in need of the welfare services we provide. They fought for the freedom we enjoy today; please help us to give them a secure tomorrow,” said Air Vice-Marshal David Whittaker, Northern Ireland Regional President of The Royal Air Forces Association.

“But it is not just the veterans of the Second World War who need our help. There are those who are very much younger, some of them victims of the many conflicts which have taken place since 1945 and who are still serving. The role played by the Royal Air Force in the two Gulf Wars and ongoing operations in Afghanistan have received much publicity.”

He continued: “We are very proud of the welfare work we have carried out over the last 69 years, but it all costs a great deal of money. Increasingly, we are being asked to play our part in providing Care in the Community for those who can no longer rely on public welfare services or local authority support. But the cost of maintaining these welfare support services and meeting some of the needs of our veterans, which can include living expenses, health care, social services and housing, is well over £11,000 per day. Sadly there is a very real danger that calls on our services will outstrip our ability to respond and some of the most needy will receive less assistance than they truly deserve.”

Urging local people to back this year’s Wings Appeal, Air Vice-Marshal Whittaker added: “We are most anxious that we are able to respond fully to all calls for assistance and we seek people’s help to allow us to achieve this goal. In raising the necessary funds we are heavily reliant on the generosity of the public during our Annual Wings Appeal, which this year will be held from the 10th to 16th September. Members and friends of the Association will be making street and house to house collections during the week. Please help us to ensure that next year all calls for assistance are fully answered by giving generously to our collectors or, by sending a donation to the Appeals Director, RAF Association, 21 Talbot Street, Belfast, BT1 2LD. Only with your generous support can we, at least in some small way, repay the enormous debt which we owe to those who have given, and are continuing to give so much.”

Anyone who would like to volunteer a few hours of their time to help as a collector for this year’s Wings Appeal should telephone the Appeals Director on 028 9032 5718.