THE Aaron Lewis Foundation recently met up with a group of sick and injured soldiers who had completed first aid training funded by the charity.
Barry and Helen Lewis – Aaron’s parents – made the trip to the Colchester Personnel Recovery Centre (PRC) to hand out certificates to those who completed the course.
The ALF was contacted by Aaron’s commanding officer Colonel Neil Wilson, who ask if we could provide some funding for the project. Much of the training used to be paid for by Help For Heroes, which built the PRC alongside the Ministry of Defence, but this is gradually being withdrawn.
ALF trustee Lt Col (Retd) Steve Fraser explained: “We agreed to fund the first aid at work course because we felt this was enabling soldiers to improve their lives through an active course.
“It could also have wider benefits to society if any one of those soldiers had to put that knowledge into practice.
“The PRC has two roles – the first is to keep injured soldiers going through rehabilitation engaged and active while away from their units, and secondly to prepare those likely to be discharged due to their injuries for life on civvy street.”
Coordinator Captain Chris Butt, from the PRC at Merville Barracks in Colchester, thanked the ALF for its support and Helen and Barry for the certificate presentation.
And the soldiers also told us how much they enjoyed the training, saying:
- “As close to a perfect course as can be.”
- “The best first aid training I’ve had; thank you very much for an excellent and valuable experience.”
- “Excellent, totally at ease and relaxed; the best tutor I’ve ever had.”
- “All-round brilliant course; learnt a lot in an easy and calming work environment.”
- “Excellent course from start to finish; instruction was out of this world.”
- “Made it fun to learn and very hands on.”
Capt Butt added: “I know from my own conversations with the students that they really appreciated the opportunity to meet and talk to Helen and Barry and learn a little bit more about Aaron and the charity that has supported them in their own recovery.”