It’s-a-knockout event will help former soldiers

A free It’s-a-knockout event in aid of Newark Patriotic Fund takes place on Saturday, May 7.

The professionally-run event, featuring 24 teams, all of which are confirmed, is being held at Newark Rugby Club, Kelham Road.

The event, which will be opened by the MP for Newark, Mr Robert Jenrick, will feature inflatables for children. Families are encouraged to attend.

The Firecrackers Cheerleading Squad will perform, and the club bar will be open.

The event is being organised by furniture retailer Mr Ian Willis, of Coddington, an ex-Royal Marine, who served in the Falklands and who is involved with the patriotic fund.

Newark Patriotic Fund assists serving and ex-members of the Armed Forces who suffered physical injury or are mentally-scarred and their loved ones.

“This day is about raising money, but more than that, it’s about having fun,” Mr Willis said.

He said when he returned from the Falklands, there was nothing like the fund, very little in terms of support and zero appreciation of conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder.

'Some of the lads came back to nothing'

“I was lucky because I had a big family — brothers, cousins. There was always someone I could talk to,” he said.

“I am still waiting to be officially debriefed about the operations we were involved in.

“Some of the lads came back to nothing and paid a price for that.

“Organisations like Newark Patriotic Fund provide a fantastic opportunity for the lads and lasses who served in places such as Afghanistan to get immediate support and the after-care we never had.

“Whether it’s just a chat and a coffee or a way into mental health support, the fund is there.

“A few years after I left the Forces, my wife, Romany, died of a brain haemorrhage and I would have really benefited from having something like the fund at that time.

“That’s the beauty of it — the ongoing help and support.”