The Aaron Lewis Foundation – History of Beneficiaries

by | Feb 21, 2013 | Who we've helped | 0 comments

2009/2010

  • Funding towards the building of the Commando Gunner Memorial which sits outside of Aaron’s regimental home at The Royal Citadel in Plymouth

 

2011

  • Money raised for Parkinson’s & Dementia UK

 

2012

  • Launch of the School Award Scheme (Daniella & Lynette)

 

2013

  • State-of-the art electric wheelchairs for Essex area children Matthew & Daisy
  • Sound system for the gym at the Army Regional Rehabilitation Unit in Colchester

 

2014

  • Bespoke wheelchair for an Essex based boy (name withheld by request)
  • In conjunction with Help for Heroes & BLESMA, provided a specialised electric wheelchair for injured veteran, Jonathan

 

2015

  • Furnished the home of a veteran suffering with mental health issues allowing him to live independently and provide a suitable home for his children to visit (name withheld by request)
  • Woodworking tools for a veteran suffering from mental health issues, providing him with much-needed therapy and the ability to get back into part-time work (name withheld by request)
  • Recumbent bike for Bruce, a seriously injured veteran in South Wales
  • Handbike & lightweight wheelchair combination for Neil, an injured veteran in Scotland
  • Handbike for Chris, a former member of the RAF with life-changing injuries living in Wiltshire
  • Handbike & accessories for Gareth, a serving member of the Royal Navy with a life-changing illness
  • Carbon wheels for Dave who was a member of Prince Harry’s Team GB at the Invictus Games in the USA – Dave went on to win 2 bronze medals
  • Highly specialised adaptable Tomcat trikes for two Essex-based disabled children (names withheld by request)
  • Provision of specialist gel seating for 2 children suffering from Tay-Sachs and supported by The CATS Foundation (names withheld by request)
  • Collaborated with Essex-based Christian charity (Fellowship Afloat) to provide a sailing boat suitable for use with less mobile and/or confident students
  • Specialist adjustable tricycle for Essex-based disabled child, Penelope

 

2016

  • Help with housing costs for Andy – an injured veteran in Avon
  • Learning Solutions Listening Programme software and equipment for local schoolboy, Harley
  • Handcycle for injured veteran, Martin in Devon
  • Tools for local veteran Rob who suffers from service-related mental health issues, enabling him to start work as a qualified electrician
  • Stairlift for disabled veterans and visitors to use at an Avon-based model railway club
  • Hand cycle for a severely injured veteran, Justin in Bristol. Justin went on to win the United States Marine Corps marathon using the handcycle
  • Christmas presents, family day trips & hampers to three families in the Essex area who have suffered hardship and/or great difficulty in 2016 due to illnesses and disabilities (names withheld)

 

2017

  • Carbon bike wheels for injured veteran and keen cyclist, Jezz
  • Racing suit and helmet for injured serviceman and trainee disabled racing driver, Jimmy
  • Specialist physiotherapy treatment for local boy, Lennon
  • Power-assisted handcycle and wheelchair combination for local young amputee, Conall
  • Computer equipment and software for a pupil at St Helens Primary School, Essex (name withheld by request)
  • Funding to assist with running costs for a Somerset Sea Cadet unit
  • Kayak loading system for injured veteran in Devon, Charlie
  • Joint funding with Blesma for a recumbent bike for veteran amputee, Chris
  • Christmas presents for two very deserving families in the Essex area (names withheld)
  • Tri-rider power-assisted cycle adaptation for local lad, Richard

 

2018

  • 3 x First Aid at Work Courses for injured soldiers at the Colchester Joint Personnel Recovery Centre
  • A wheelchair-accessible rigid inflatable boat (RIB) in conjunction with the Morrison’s Foundation for use by the Plymouth & Devon Schools Sailing Association (PDSSA)
  • Provision of a bespoke gun trailer for the Shoeburyness & South East Essex Royal Artillery Association to transport their 25 pounder gun to displays and veterans’ funerals
  • Christmas presents for struggling families (identified by Southend Social Services), Little Havens and a women’s refuge (names withheld)

 

2019

  • 4 x 4 beach-accessible powered wheelchair for Cornwall-based veteran, Martin (a triple amputee), who teaches other veterans to surf in the UK & USA
  • Top-up funding for a specialist NHS wheelchair for Essex based, Sarah (who suffers rare genetic condition which makes her body’s connective tissues collapse)
  • Bathroom adaptation for Mick, a Somerset-based veteran who suffered a life-changing brain injury that left him unable to stand or bathe unaided
  • Adaptations and maintenance to a handbike (originally presented to Conall in 2017) for it to be passed on to an Essex-based lady called Bethany
  • 3 x First Aid at Work Courses for injured soldiers at the Colchester Joint Personnel Recovery Centre
  • Manual wheelchair for Essex-based spinally injured veteran, Paul
  • Joint funding of a specialist Piccolino-powered wheelchair for 4-year-old Essex schoolboy, Oliver
  • Annual service and maintenance of the PDSSA RIB in Plymouth
  • Repairs to the handcycle of veteran Lee, who was attacked and victimised whilst out training
  • Materials and specialist model railway components for Mark, a very seriously ill veteran in Swindon
  • A highly specialised travel system for Essex-based 4-year-old William who suffers from life-threatening epilepsy
  • Training and rehabilitation equipment for Aaron’s gym at the new Westcliff RFC premises in Essex

School Award Scheme: In addition to the individual projects above, since summer 2013, the Aaron Lewis Foundation has helped 9 pupils from Belfairs Academy in Essex to conduct overseas volunteering trips by match funding their

 

2020

  •  First Aid at Work Courses for injured soldiers at the Colchester Joint Personnel Recovery Centre (agreed funding for the rest of 2020 was not used due to COVID-19 impacts on courses)
  • Recumbent handbike for amputee veteran in Exeter, Lexi
  • 2/3rds of Medieval history MA fees for paralysed veteran in Somerset, Rob

 

2021

  • 2 x sets of sensory equipment for isolated children in Southend
  • 50/50 fund a hybrid handbike for Royal Marine in Exmouth, Matt
  • Match funding of £25000 robotic rehab trainer for David from Leigh on Sea
  • 50% of year 2 history MA fees for Somerset-based veteran Rob
  • 40% payment towards a new boat cover for the Aaron Lewis rib @ PDSSA

 

2022

  • 50 % of funding for 29 Commando Regiment welfare camper van in Plymouth
  • First Aid at Work Courses for injured soldiers at the Colchester Joint Personnel Recovery
  • Rugby wheelchair for injured veteran Lee from Warminster
  • 50% funding of X8 all-terrain powerchair for spinally injured veteran Paul in Cornwall
  • E-motion motorised wheelchair wheels for injured veteran Paul from Exeter
  • Oversized rugby wheelchair for the Endeavour Veterans wheelchair rugby club in Exeter
  • X-fit weights and rig for injured veteran Charlie in support of his X-fit gym in Blandford
  • New boat cover for the Aaron Lewis RIB in Plymouth
  • 75% funding of X8 all-terrain powerchair for injured veteran Darran in Devon
  • 75% funding of wheelchair power add-on for lower limb injured veteran Richard in Devon
  • Christmas presents, including sensory equipment for 3 families in Southend

 

2023

  • Sports training wheelchair for veteran (and World Record Holder) Lexi from Exeter
  • All terrain wheelchair for veteran Tony from Bristol
  • Overbed hoist for disabled schoolboy Jayden from Southend-on-Sea
  • Special high-chair with table for Willow in Southend-on-Sea
  • Re-gifting of Conal’s hybrid handbike to Paralympian Sarah in Devon
  • Meywalk aid for Abbey in Southend-on-Sea (co-funded with The Lords Group Foundation)

 

2024

  • 29 Commando Camper van hygiene checks and service
  • Contribution towards 29 Commando funds for terminally ill serviceman (not publicised)
  • Rugby wheelchair for veteran Gordon in Cornwall
  • Tag rugby equipment for King John School trip to Borneo
  • Football strips and boots for a homeless veteran’s residential centre (The Beacon) in Yorkshire
  • Trailer for Celtic Warriors wheelchair rugby club equipment
  • Walking and outdoor equipment for The Beacon
  • 2 x sailing days for disabled veterans through The Disabled Sailors Association
  • Powered wheelchair service for disabled veteran Darran in Devon