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Hi, my name is James Targett, I am an Ex British Paratrooper Veteran, and an Australian Veteran.
In September 2019 I am taking part in a charity bike ride with 40 other riders that is raising money for British Airborne Forces Club to help British Veteran Airborne Soldiers and Australian Veterans, through various organisations and Charity’s.
The ride will start at Pegasus Bridge in France, traveling through France and then on in to Belgium, on to the John Frost Bridge in Arnhem, Holland to finish.
The route will cover about 680km (500 miles) over 5 days, that’s about 160km a day. (A long time in the saddle, as I am now in my 60's but it will be worth every moment.)
Australia is well named "The lucky Country" for our Veterans. Over here we have The Department of Veteran Affairs; RSL, Mates-4-Mates, and Solider On Australia Wandering Warriors. These are some of the organisations over here. In the UK they do not... there are about 9,000 Veterans living on the streets in the UK.
Even with these support systems in place a study since 2010 has found that 1 in 20 of the 8,370-homeless people interviewed over the past eight years who are living on the streets in Australia, were ex-military personnel. That’s a huge five percent. Most of those people (close to 400) were men. About 15 per cent (71 people) were women.
Come on people, we need to do more……
There are many complex factors involved, including not only the trauma that veterans have experienced in wartime deployment, but also the shame and embarrassment they feel around reaching out for help when their lives are falling apart. “Many returned veterans struggle to adjust to post-war life and can suffer physical impairments and mental illness such as post-traumatic stress disorder,” “It’s a sad reality that this can lead to financial stress, difficulty maintaining employment, domestic violence, substance misuse and family breakdown, all of which leaves them at a greater risk of homelessness.”
Your support to help achieve this ride and raise money for these Veterans, will mean a lot to me, as this is something that is very close to my heart.
With the help of the BAFC and the Australian organisations, the money that is raised will help to support these people, and help them to receive treatment and rehabilitation on their road to recovery.
Please help ... every cent counts.
Personal Funding and British Airborne Forces Club and Australian Organisations Funding
1. Personal Funding – this is to help with the costs to get over to England, to purchase a bike so that I can complete the ride, as I will be taking the bike over with me. I have paid for my place on the ride team, there are only 40 spots, there has been a lot of interest from other veterans to participate in this event.
2. BAFC Australian Veteran Organisations Funding- we are trying to raise between 40-50 thousand pounds sterling, $80.000 Australian, the money will be donated to the different organisations and Charity’s.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story.
I am one of the fortunate ones that did not suffer from my tours in the military. I get very upset that these veterans who have answered the call when needed, served their country when needed, finished their time and come out to civilian life, are left to fend for themselves when they are on hard times. This is my way of helping where I can, it’s not much, but I am "having a Go".
If you are not able to help now that's fine, the timing maybe not right at this moment. Could you please pass on this app to you friends, there will be people who have or might know of veterans, by passing this on we can make a difference.
Thank You
NOTE
I would personally like to thank all the brethren of Beaudesert Lodge No 379 UGLQ for the contribution of $ 1000 to this cause. I am a Brother of this country Lodge, we are a small Lodge compared to some of the city lodges but we all have a big Heart. There are members in my Lodge who are British Veterans, Australian Veterans and South African Veterans, thank you my Brothers....... So Mote it Be.
I would also like to thank all the brethren of Murilla Lodge No 265 UGLQ for their contribution to a cause close to the hearts of most Freemasons and allied to Masonic values.
I Have been a Brother of this country Lodge since 2012 which I affiliated to when I was working out in Western Queensland. .......So Mote it Be.
I would like to recognise 99Bikes Brownplains for helping to choose, and discount, “fit the bike for me” and help me with some merchandise to wear on the ride. Thanks to Travis and the Team.
James. T
In September 2019 I am taking part in a charity bike ride with 40 other riders that is raising money for British Airborne Forces Club to help British Veteran Airborne Soldiers and Australian Veterans, through various organisations and Charity’s.
The ride will start at Pegasus Bridge in France, traveling through France and then on in to Belgium, on to the John Frost Bridge in Arnhem, Holland to finish.
The route will cover about 680km (500 miles) over 5 days, that’s about 160km a day. (A long time in the saddle, as I am now in my 60's but it will be worth every moment.)
Australia is well named "The lucky Country" for our Veterans. Over here we have The Department of Veteran Affairs; RSL, Mates-4-Mates, and Solider On Australia Wandering Warriors. These are some of the organisations over here. In the UK they do not... there are about 9,000 Veterans living on the streets in the UK.
Even with these support systems in place a study since 2010 has found that 1 in 20 of the 8,370-homeless people interviewed over the past eight years who are living on the streets in Australia, were ex-military personnel. That’s a huge five percent. Most of those people (close to 400) were men. About 15 per cent (71 people) were women.
Come on people, we need to do more……
There are many complex factors involved, including not only the trauma that veterans have experienced in wartime deployment, but also the shame and embarrassment they feel around reaching out for help when their lives are falling apart. “Many returned veterans struggle to adjust to post-war life and can suffer physical impairments and mental illness such as post-traumatic stress disorder,” “It’s a sad reality that this can lead to financial stress, difficulty maintaining employment, domestic violence, substance misuse and family breakdown, all of which leaves them at a greater risk of homelessness.”
Your support to help achieve this ride and raise money for these Veterans, will mean a lot to me, as this is something that is very close to my heart.
With the help of the BAFC and the Australian organisations, the money that is raised will help to support these people, and help them to receive treatment and rehabilitation on their road to recovery.
Please help ... every cent counts.
Personal Funding and British Airborne Forces Club and Australian Organisations Funding
1. Personal Funding – this is to help with the costs to get over to England, to purchase a bike so that I can complete the ride, as I will be taking the bike over with me. I have paid for my place on the ride team, there are only 40 spots, there has been a lot of interest from other veterans to participate in this event.
2. BAFC Australian Veteran Organisations Funding- we are trying to raise between 40-50 thousand pounds sterling, $80.000 Australian, the money will be donated to the different organisations and Charity’s.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story.
I am one of the fortunate ones that did not suffer from my tours in the military. I get very upset that these veterans who have answered the call when needed, served their country when needed, finished their time and come out to civilian life, are left to fend for themselves when they are on hard times. This is my way of helping where I can, it’s not much, but I am "having a Go".
If you are not able to help now that's fine, the timing maybe not right at this moment. Could you please pass on this app to you friends, there will be people who have or might know of veterans, by passing this on we can make a difference.
Thank You
NOTE
I would personally like to thank all the brethren of Beaudesert Lodge No 379 UGLQ for the contribution of $ 1000 to this cause. I am a Brother of this country Lodge, we are a small Lodge compared to some of the city lodges but we all have a big Heart. There are members in my Lodge who are British Veterans, Australian Veterans and South African Veterans, thank you my Brothers....... So Mote it Be.
I would also like to thank all the brethren of Murilla Lodge No 265 UGLQ for their contribution to a cause close to the hearts of most Freemasons and allied to Masonic values.
I Have been a Brother of this country Lodge since 2012 which I affiliated to when I was working out in Western Queensland. .......So Mote it Be.
I would like to recognise 99Bikes Brownplains for helping to choose, and discount, “fit the bike for me” and help me with some merchandise to wear on the ride. Thanks to Travis and the Team.
James. T