Despite the challenges we have faced during the COVID 19 pandemic, the Trustees and key supporters of the Aaron Lewis Foundation have been keeping busy.
Support has not stopped, with a continued 2020 commitment to first aid training at the Colchester MOD Personnel Recovery Centre and delivery of William’s safe travel sleep system. In June, amputee and veteran Lexi was provided with a critical physical and emotional boost in the form of a handbike (which she has not been off since). Although a decision was made in 2019 to extend the popular schools award scheme for another five years, sadly no students were able to travel. However, any funds promised for 2020 will be honoured for a later date and the Trustees will continue to consider requests in the coming academic year.
With the easing of social gathering restrictions not being sufficient to permit large public events, the difficult decision was made (in conjunction with Westcliff RFC) not to run the ALF 10s rugby tournament this year. However, we are already thinking about the 2021 event and will be doubly enthusiastic if it goes ahead. On the theme of rugby, sadly the 29 Commando-Plymouth Albion Aaron Lewis Memorial match that was scheduled to run for the first time since its inaugural game in 2009 also had to be postponed.
Although there has been no active fundraising, a few very kind donations have still been received and planning for some cornerstone fundraising events (originally for 2020) has continued, ready for when restrictions are eventually eased. Without any public events, the Trustees, in conjunction with the insurance policy advisors, deferred renewal of the public liability insurance which saved some critical funds – this will be renewed once events re-start.
Although 2020 has not panned out to be the year we had expected when we last met in November 2019, the Aaron Lewis Foundation has continued to help were it said it would and where it can, and remains open to all requests for support. It is hard to say what 2021 will bring, but this will not deter our enthusiasm and planning to allow us to keep doing good things in Aaron’s name.
The Trustees
17 September 2020