A ROYAL Navy veteran from Coventry is asking fellow citizens to send a message of hope to former military personnel this Christmas.
Last December, thousands of messages of support for veterans were posted online on the Help for Heroes Message Wall – and the charity is hoping that local residents will respond again.
Graham Hudspith, 58, served for 15 years and said: “Veterans can sometimes feel they are forgotten by society. And if they’re living with physical injuries, disabilities or mental illness they can become isolated – and especially at Christmas, their mental health can spiral down even further.
“The messages left by members of the public last year were so heart-warming. It would be great if we could get as many messages of hope as possible from people across the West Midlands, which will show all our veterans that their service hasn’t been forgotten. Leaving a message is easy to do and there’s no cost involved.”
Graham joined up in 1983 and spent time in the Caribbean, USA, Mediterranean and the North Atlantic, and did three trips to the Gulf.
He was medically discharged due to a neck injury and had to rely on his wife as his carer. He managed to get over bowel cancer after being diagnosed in 2014, but then contracted endocarditis, an inflammation of the lining and valves of the heart.
During this time, he suffered three ‘mini-strokes’ and had to have one of the valves in his heart replaced.
He has had support from the Help for Heroes clinical and mental health teams, attended residential events and received funding for equipment.
Graham added: “After my recent illnesses I was home alone, unable to go out and the world seemed to carry on without me.
“I received a Christmas card from the charity last year, and there was a sweet message from someone inside, who I’ve never met. It gave me a warm feeling to know that veterans are still thought about and appreciated.
“One of my friends Andy, who was a Royal Marine, got a card as well, which really helped him as he was going through a crisis moment with his PTSD.
“It’s amazing how a few heartfelt words can remind you that you’re seen, valued, and appreciated. Those words could be the first step towards them reaching out for life-changing support, and to starting a new chapter in their lives.”
The Office for Veterans’ Affairs and Family Survey, published in June this year, shows that nearly one in three veterans who live in the UK experience loneliness. Last winter, requests for support to Help for Heroes were 25 per cent above average.
The Charity is aiming to send over 10,000 Christmas cards with messages of hope from members of the public to veterans this year.
Visit https://sendamessage.helpforheroes.org.uk to send a message or make a donation.
