Heroes welcome from Trust staff

Thursday 24 July 2014

A big group of injured Royal Marines and service personnel are holidaying in Jersey with their families thanks to a massive donation to a local charity.

Nautilus Trust has given Holidays for Heroes a philanthropic donation of more than £40,000 – the largest single gift the charity has ever had and which is paying for nearly sixty people to get a much-needed break in the Island.

The Trust’s staff will get to meet the holidaymakers next week when they are guests of honour at their bake sale where they hope to raise more money for the local charity.

Nautilus Trust’s director Jan Kenny said: “When we told Nautilus Trust staff about the donation, they decided they wanted to do something in addition to that financial support and so a bake sale has been organised for Tuesday 22^nd July from 12 noon until 3pm in Weighbridge Square. Our 70 staff will all be involved in either baking cakes and savouries, making sandwiches or helping serve on the day.

“It seemed only fitting that the Royal Marines were invited as guests of honour and we are looking forward to meeting them, learning more about the incredible sacrifices they have made and how much they have enjoyed their time in Jersey.”

Other local businesses are contributing too and Mrs Kenny says she hopes Islanders will show their support by coming along.

She said: “Everything has been donated which will mean that every penny raised can be donated to Holidays for Heroes Jersey which we hope will allow them to bring even more service personnel to the island for a well-deserved holiday.”

One of the founders of Holiday for Heroes Jersey Dawn Woodhouse MBE said: “We are overwhelmed at the generosity shown to us by Nautilus Trust’s client as we rely 100% on donations. Each year, the support we have been given by companies, organisations and individuals has meant we can bring more injured personnel and their families to the island for a much-needed break.

“While we try to explain the many benefits of a week away, it is impossible for Nautilus Trust, and the many other people who support us, to truly appreciate how much a holiday means to these members and past members of HM Forces who have been injured, in mind or body during, or as a result of their service.”

The charity has funded holidays for more than 1,800 people since it was set up in 2008 and 395 will be coming to the Island this year.