Value for Valour

Pictured below is Ronnie Wilkie, Operations DIrector at the Racecourse, speaking at the Racing Launch of Value for Valour, Sport in Action for the Forces, at Ascot Racecourse, on November 13.

Mr Wilke said: "Value for Valour, V4V, is a powerful, tangible way for sports stadia to show their appreciation for our service men and women, by giving them good deals. The vision is to have  every major stadium, from Aberdeen to Penzance in the programme, though  it is up to each venue to devise an offer, not necessarily based on the Ascot model of 2 for 1."
Launched earlier this year with the Berkshire Media Group, V4V is already off to a flying start, with Reading Utd., Bracknell Bees, London Irish and Earls Court having joined Ascot Racecourse in offering 2 for 1 deals to anybody with a services ID card, regular or territorial.
V4V came about through a Country Life article on the social life, or lack of it, of some officers who were serving in Basra in 2007. One of them, Captain Nicola Rush  lives near Ascot. She visited Ascot Racecourse, with the idea of reduced ticket prices for all service personnel. She pointed out that, when service personnel come home on leave they want to spend time on outings with families and these can be expensive. This is a means of showing appreciation, not just for the injured.

Once the scheme has been launched, the plan is to run a national initiative, raising funds for the Army Benevolent Fund, which deals with issues arising from current conflicts.  Ascot Racecourse will be the banker and host  cheque presentation events.
Major General Sir Evelyn Webb-Carter KCVO, speaking at the launch. He said: "The Army Benevolent Fund is the 'Soldiers Charity'. My main worry is what happens after soldiers leave the protection of their regimental corps. We want to be sure that we have the wherewithall to deal with long term problems. " He pointed out that conditions such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can  take years to emerge.

The Army Benevolent Fund is on 0845 241 4820 and at www.armybenevolentfund.org