Colin Martin Helps Help for Heroes

Published on: Friday, 3 August 2012
Last updated: Wednesday, 5 October 2016

Greater Anglia’s Colin Martin has raised an amazing £10,000 for the force’s charity Help for Heroes.

Colin is part of Greater Anglia’s Customer Service team and he is a familiar face at Colchester and Chelmsford stations in Essex. He has been a keen charity fundraiser for some time, but last year he set himself the target of raising £10,000 in a mere 12 months for Help for Heroes and he’s just reached his goal. He’s also raised a further £500 to be donated directly to the force’s Chavasse VC Recovery Centre, in Colchester, which was built with the assistance of Help for Heroes.

Colin organised a number of events to help raise the funds including two golf days, plus two discos complete with a hog roast and a sponsored slim at work. Colin’s family all rallied round to help, with his children selling Help for Heroes wrist bands too. Greater Anglia showed their support by providing two pairs of first class tickets for a journey on their services as prizes at the discos. At the most recent golf day, organised with the assistance of Frinton Golf Club, Colin raised an incredible £4,500.

Colin Martin said “I’d like to say a very big thank you to my family, friends, colleagues and the local businesses who have supported me. A special mention too to 'my right hand man' Ian Lock, who helped organise the events. Together we’ve raised a fantastic amount for a very worthwhile charity.”

On Thursday 2 August Colin visited the Merville Barracks in Colchester to handover the donations to the Chavasse VC Recovery Centre and Help for Heroes.

Major Rob Thomas said “What Colin and his ‘team’ have achieved epitomises the fantastic level of support we receive from across our local community. I took part in the golf competition this year, and attended the disco afterwards, and the sheer hard work and professionalism that went into organising the whole event was evident throughout. Great people, a great day and every penny raised is extremely welcome. Well done to all.”

Steve Schollar Help for Heroes, Centre Manager, Chavasse VC Recovery Centre: “It is only because of the continuing kindness and generosity of the British public that Help for Heroes, and its MOD and Royal British Legion partners, are able to deliver the levels of support and care that our wounded, injured and sick Service personnel so richly deserve. Colin’s enthusiasm for the Help for Heroes’ cause, and for the Colchester Recovery Centre in particular, has already generated an astonishing £10000, and his evident desire to continue that support is inspirational. On behalf of Help for Heroes, and all whom we support, a huge “well done” and “thank you!”