This news item is over 3 months old and has been archived.
'Camo Day' launch at Scarborough Armed Forces Day
A fundraising initiative
supported during Armed Forces Day in Scarborough last year has been
rolled out nationwide after it proved to be a massive hit in the
town.
Camo Day, organised by Soldiers, Sailors,
Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) - Forces Help, saw
youngsters at several schools in Scarborough dress up like our
troops, to raise money for our troops.
SSAFA hopes to raise more than £10,000 from
the national Camo Day so the charity can continue caring for
members of the Armed Forces, past and present, and their families.
It will be officially launched on Armed Forces Day in Scarborough
on 23 June, which is a week ahead of the national Armed Forces Day
celebrations in Plymouth.
Meanwhile, SSAFA is inviting Scarborough
schoolchildren to get involved during this year’s Scarborough event
by donning combats or wearing face paint in return for a donation.
Among those already signed up is Scarborough’s Hinderwell School.
Three Scarborough schoolchildren have made a short film promoting
Camo Day, which can be seen on the SSAFA website at www.ssafa.org.uk/camoday
SSAFA Head of Regional Fundraising, Julia
Clark, said: “We had some tremendous feedback from our volunteers
about last year’s event. We raised £760, not including collections,
and Camo Day was really well supported and a massive success.
“Traditionally, it’s harder to get our
message out to younger people, but Camo Day could be the perfect
formula in terms of linking that audience with our service
personnel in a fun and enjoyable way.
“On the serious side of what we do, Armed
Forces Day helps us reach out to people who may need us. Last year
we were able to make a real difference to someone who came to us
looking for help. Their partner had been injured in service and
they were understandably struggling and needing support. They
received the help they needed, something which I don’t think would
have happened had it not been for Armed Forces Day.
“We’re thrilled to be coming back to
Scarborough again this year – it’s widely recognised that
Scarborough puts on a brilliant event. At the SSAFA annual meeting
last year, in the presence of commanding officers from both York
and Catterick, Scarborough Armed Forces Day was singled out for
praise. The support given to our Armed Forces in the Scarborough
community is very special indeed.”
Scarborough Armed Forces Day is the Naval
Regional Commander’s keystone event in the North of England this
year, with the Royal Navy set to play a key part, and is expected
to attract more than 15,000 people to the town’s seafront.
Her Majesty’s Royal Marine Band Scotland will demonstrate
their skills with a 40-minute performance and the Royal Navy will
also be bringing their Royal Marines Fitness Challenge and Climbing
Tower to the event. Royal Navy chefs will be giving “Food for Life”
healthy cooking demonstrations, while the Royal Navy Northern
Diving Group will be bringing a gigantic watertank to demonstrate
what it was like to wear old diving gear along, with other diving
memorabilia. The Scarborough event will also feature displays,
parades, stalls and games.