New soldier's charity fund launched

Posted by: Robert Cotton | Last Updated: 11.10.2011

A new charitable appeal is to be launched by the Army's most senior Scottish regiment, with organisers hoping to raise £1 million in the first year.

The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards is establishing the Caring For Courage Fund to raise money for injured soldiers and the families of those wounded or killed in action.

The charity will be officially launched on October 20 at a fundraising dinner in London.

Alexa Jago, vice-chair of Caring For Courage, said:

"In an uncertain world, these young soldiers are risking their lives in the name of their country, reminding us what honour, tradition and loyalty means. There is no greater sacrifice someone can make and I feel privileged to help them and their families cope with any difficulties that lie ahead."

The dinner at the Royal Hospital in Chelsea, for which a few tickets are still available, will be attended by the Duke of Kent, the regiment's deputy colonel-in-chief and patron of the appeal.

Speaking before the launch, the Duke said:

"We owe our soldiers the very best care if they become casualties, their families too."

The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards is Scotland's most senior regiment and its only regular cavalry. The regiment, based in north Germany and which long ago exchanged its horses for tanks and armoured cars, deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Herrick earlier this year.

Over the last two decades soldiers from the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards have also been involved in operations in Kuwait and Iraq, as well as Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo.

© Press Association