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    Prince Backs Charity For War-Wounded Troops

    Prince Harry has joined a group of injured British servicemen in central London at the launch of the Walking With The Wounded Everest 2012 challenge.

    By June, five injured British servicemen hope to be at the top of Mount Everest.

    Prince Harry will support them as patron of the Walking With The Wounded charity.

    Speaking at the launch event, the Prince said: "Walking With The Wounded has become a household name.

    "It has changed from being a one-off expedition into a fully-fledged charity.

    "It now blazes the trail in showing wounded servicemen and women that hope remains."

    The challenge follows the success of the charity's 2011 expedition to become the first team of unsupported war-wounded amputees to reach the Geographic North Pole.

    The Everest expedition will consist of two parts beginning with a seven-day trek from Lukla in Eastern Nepal to Base Camp at 5364m.

    All nine members of the team plan to complete this stage. Five members of the team will then make the attempt to reach the summit.

    Among the five hoping to make it to the summit is Private Karl Hinett. He received substantial burns in a now well-documented incident while serving with the British Army in Basra in 2005.

    He and a fellow soldier were photographed jumping from a burning Warrior armoured vehicle caught up in a riot in the southern Iraqi city.

    Seven years since that incident, he is now well enough for the most extreme of challenges. 

    The team, with big sponsors including Glenfiddich, Helly Hanson and Horlicks, are hoping to raise a substantial sum of money.

    The Walking With The Wounded charity raises funds to assist with the re-training and re-education of servicemen and women, both veterans and those leaving the Armed Forces.

    Prince Harry has not yet revealed whether or not he will be able to join the team for any of the challenge in the same way as he did for the North Pole trip last year.

    It is thought his Army commitments might make it difficult for him to get away but he is determined to support them all the way.

    "It's not just about the men that you see before you," the Prince said referring to the team.

    "It's about the future of so many more. The expedition to the Himalayas, of which I am so proud to be patron, is raising money to train and educate those with physical and cognitive injuries suffered in war to manage their transition into civilian employment.

    "The concept is quite simple - a job equals security. They have given their all for our security, security is the very lease as a nation that we owe them."

    The team consists of nine members of the military. The summit team are: Captain Martin Hewitt, Private Jaco Van Gass, Private Karl Hinett, Captain David Wiseman and Doctor Francis Atkinson.

    The base camp team will consist of Private Daniel Majid, Wing Sergeant Andy Hawkins, Private Manindra Rai and Rifleman Chris Gwilt.

    They will set off in March and hope to be at the top by the beginning of June.

     

    63 comments

    • mathew  •  St Albans, England  •  3 months ago
      Our government should be ashamed that it has to come to charity in the first place,perhaps if we put a few mp's on the front line they may change thier ways,but i doubt it ,useless,selfish,greedy,ignorant,arrogant,arseholes that they are !!
      • Wendy 3 months ago
        I couldn't agree more, no serviceman should ever have to depend on charity. Meanwhile, the filth in government and their cronies steal vast fortunes from the taxpayer.
      • cushty 3 months ago
        couldn't agree more.People who serve and suffer for their country deserve more help form govenrment and shouldn't have to rely on charity. Instaed of throwing money to freeloaders etc spend it on those that have contributed.
    • fischer man  •  Leeds, England  •  3 months ago
      I agree with previous comments. It's disgusting that our service people need charity. Why don't Cameron, Osborne and Whatsisname......Clegg, tax the bankers bonuses and donate that?
      • jack d 3 months ago
        there only bothered about lining there own pockets governments i have #$%$ them
      • Paige 3 months ago
        yes it's true, once you are wounded, you become a burden financially.
    • bear  •  York, England  •  3 months ago
      ITS DISGRACEFUL THAT OUR MILITARY HAVE TO RELY ON CHARITIES.IN FACT OUR HIGH STREETS ARE FUL OF CHARITY SHOPS .....IF YOU GO OVERSEAS ON HOLIDAY OR WHATEVER YOU NEVER SEE A CHARITY SHOP...WHY IS THIS I WONDER ?
      • Dave 3 months ago
        because we have given away all our money to sleaze ridden countries and we have none left
    • dido  •  Banff, Scotland  •  3 months ago
      There is no question that the war wounded should not rely on charity, however, it is often the wounded themselves who undertake the various onerous tasks to raise funds, it cannot surely be argued that the efforts these lads and lassies put in should be questioned as it is certainly a road back on the way to both physical and mental health for them. Every respect to them.
      • fischer man 3 months ago
        It's not the attitude of those taking part that is questioned. It's the attitude of a government that is trying to shirk it's responsibilities for wounded service personnel. A government that is only too keen to support the obscene bonuses of the FILTHY rich bankers.
    • “Davy”  •  3 months ago
      Why should our brave heroic forces have to rely on charity? They should be supported by who they fought for
      • Paige 3 months ago
        Because charities like to make money, are owned by Tories and the .Gov hate paying to keep these now 'useless' soldiers alive.
      • monkey grumble 3 months ago
        yes the QUEEN and country how much money are the royals giving to the wounded
    • Kevin Bloody Wilson  •  3 months ago
      Very noble,but these lads shoulds not have to rely on charity,the government sent them out to be killed and shot to bits its the government that should look after them now,not sit in some private gin palace trying to work out the best way to cut their compensation after having their legs blown off.
    • STUART  •  Darlington, England  •  3 months ago
      it seems that our brave soldiers are forgotten when they are shot or blown up and left to fend for themselves in finding somewhere to live and be cared for it just shows what this country as come to under this present goverment they can send billions of pounds abroad in aid and waste billions of pounds on immigrants yet cannot help our war heroes this to me just shows how shameless they are thanks to those various charities helping our poor soldiers they are getting some help but shame on you cameron and the bunch of misfits running this country
    • Jay  •  3 months ago
      Wounded service men & women should have every resource available to them no questions asked.
    • BRIAN  •  Edinburgh, Scotland  •  3 months ago
      Its disgusting thar people crippled and maimed while seving their country should be dependent on charity. As a country, we should hang our heads in shame.
    • stav  •  3 months ago
      If the Govt took "PROPER" care of our war wounded we wouldnt need a charity would we. They are quick enough to give our money to Pakistan and india etc etc etc
    • Tree  •  3 months ago
      Our troops deserve more than charity, should be given anything they need.
    • Nigel Goodwin  •  3 months ago
      Lou
      you and the other idiots that spout that these brave men werent forced into service should dig deeper than most as you owe the greatest dept. Without them you and your disgusting ilk may have had to serve and being such obvious ungratefull cowards that would have had you all sobbing for your mummy's.

      Loathsome doesnt even begin to describe that you and your underrock dwelling ilk are.
    • margueriteheywood  •  Manchester, England  •  3 months ago
      What has happened to the British Legion, why all the break away groups, it is better that it is centralized instead them all going about doing their own thing!
    • stephen  •  Bristol, England  •  3 months ago
      As a serving member of the armed forces with 22 yrs under my belt and 10 more working days to do, i agree it is disgusting that we have to rely on charrities.But well done to Prince Harry you would have made your mum proud.
    • Allan  •  Fareham, England  •  3 months ago
      If this country sends our young boys to fight wars then,as a civilised country it should also ensure the needs of the wonded are fully met and,not for them to have to resort to charity for help. I have heard too often how our governments have let these serviemen down Perhaps the Prince should be lobbying the government to play fair in dealing with our sons and daughters !
    • simon  •  South Croydon, England  •  3 months ago
      We should be looking after our own, the best health care, the best housing, best pension etc"........oh sorry, got to give the treatment to folks who have given nothing to this country and have been in the UK 10 minutes the best"........."Blair was, and is still a C
    • D  •  London, England  •  3 months ago
      THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO RELY ON CHARITIES..
    • CAROLINE  •  Glasgow, Scotland  •  3 months ago
      There should be no such thing as charity,it is up to the Government to look after its citizens especially the members of our armed forces who give their heart and soul,sometimes their lives and then they have to rely on charity if anything happens to them,this is not right,I wonder what would happen if the armed forces went on strike for better conditions,uniforms,battledress,weapons and for better treatment for those who can no longer be on the frontline and end up having to retrain-courtesy of charity-for desk work.
    • Nigel Goodwin  •  3 months ago
      At Lou
      You are a pure idiot, mouth over mind in its purest form.

      You decry the charity for service personel due to their being volunteers, what a fool you are.

      If there were no volunteers then there would be conscription and that might mean YOU holding a weapon and standing the line complete with wet pants you clown.
    • trods  •  London, England  •  3 months ago
      Take the bonuses from the Bankers and give it all to the wounded