Devon veteran launches Christmas appeal to support isolated ex-service personnel
Report by Duncan Williams for Pulman's Weekly News
A Devon army veteran who left the forces due to life-changing injuries is launching a Christmas appeal to remind former service personnel that they are not forgotten.
Chris Jones, 52, from Ivybridge, is encouraging people across the county to post messages of support on the Help for Heroes Message Wall, which shares handwritten messages of hope with veterans during the festive season.
Chris, who served in the Army Air Corps, 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 Devon, 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.”
Chris was forced to leave the Army Air Corps at the age of 25 after a training accident shattered his left foot, damaged his Achilles tendon, broke his right ankle and injured the ligaments in his right knee. Subsequent corrective surgery made the injuries worse, ending his military career.
He said the feelings of isolation faced by some veterans can intensify at this time of year.
“The problem for me is that Christmas is starting earlier and earlier every year.
“You can feel like you’re having Christmas shoved in your face, which magnifies feelings of isolation a lot.
“When I received the Christmas card last year, which included a message that someone had posted on the Message Wall, it made me smile and gave me something to feel positive about being a veteran.
“I was amazed that someone cares, even after all these years.”
Help for Heroes aims to send more than 10,000 Christmas cards to veterans again this year. Last winter, requests for support to the charity were 25 per cent above average, and a recent survey found that nearly one in three UK veterans experiences loneliness.
It is estimated that more than 65,000 veterans are living in Devon.
Members of the public can submit messages of support or make a donation by visiting the Help for Heroes website.
( Photo: Help for Heroes 📸 )