Soldiering On Awards Jenny Green It was a wonderful surprise and unexpected honour to learn that I had been awarded the Soldiering On Through Life Lifetime Achievement Award 2013. Like so many people involved in supporting the charitable sector we all try to do our best to help those needing support, – in my case bereaved service widows, especially the RAF and Service widows associations and never think about getting public recognition.
Anticipating the award ceremony , the venue and number of people who would be present was a daunting prospect ,but an exciting one. The occasion was unlike any other I have attended – it was glittering and fantastic.
I was amazed to see how many people were there wanting to support the Armed Forces . Most of us know that the service family is very supportive of its wounded and bereaved , but it was a welcome surprise to see how many organisations and companies , many of whom had very little to do directly with the “Forces family” , had come wanting to be supportive and to help raise funds.
Events such as the awards ceremony are a wonderful way of raising both the profile of the Armed Forces and the problems that some service personnel and their families have had to face and come to terms with, and raising much needed funds. The charities that have sponsored award winners all get a proportion of the profits raised during the year , so it is a real incentive for service charities to put forward nominations.
The awards night was a glamorous occasion but also a very moving one. Listening to the stories of other award winners was very humbling and the support offered by the audience almost overwhelming.
Thank you to the RAF Widows Association for nominating me and to the Soldiering On Through Life Trust for awarding me the 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award and giving the RAF Widows Association some much needed funding.