More than £12,000 has been raised this year for Birmingham’s Fisher House, the recovery haven for injured armed forces personnel and their families, by the One Thousand Trades Group.
This total was added to last night at a private dinner at Hotel du Vin, Birmingham, attended by Veterans Minister and former Royal Marines Commando, Al Carns, and ex England and British & Irish Lions rugby player Tim ‘Stimmo’ Stimpson.
Funded by Dave Hawkins of Damand Services
The meal, in the hotel’s stunning wine cellar, was funded by Dave Hawkins, owner of Damand Services, a heating and plumbing company in Walsall, after he placed the winning bid for dinner with Stimpson at the ‘Mud, Sweat & Cheers’ charity auction event at Moseley Rugby Club earlier this year.
Dave and his colleagues and pals also had the privilege of Carns’ company. When the Selly Oak MP heard it was taking place, he popped by to personally thank Dave for supporting Fisher House, a cause close to his heart.
‘Fisher House cared for my colleagues and their families’ – Al Carns
“When I served in Afghanistan, I took multiple casualties back to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital here in Birmingham,” said Carns, who recently set a record for going from London to the top of Mt Everest and back in seven days to raise funds for veterans’ charities. Previously the quickest for that trip was 21 days.
“And, when those casualties were being looked after by the amazing staff nurses and doctors within the Queen Elizabeth, their families stayed in Fisher House.”
“I’d follow him into the trenches tomorrow” – Tim Stimpson on Al Carns
Of Carns, who gave a moving speech on the importance of Fisher House, Stimmo said: “I’ve got an MP that I’d follow through the trenches tomorrow.”
He called Dave and his Damand Services colleagues “a load of business guys” with “big hearts,” adding: “They want to make a difference as I do.”
Dinner donated by Hotel du Vin
The dinner was donated as an auction prize by Arron Wincott, general manager at Hotel du Vin. ‘Mud, Sweat & Cheers’ at Moseley Rugby Club was staged by Paul Cadman, CEO of the One Thousand Trades Group of companies.
Invictus Games will feature many who have recovered at Fisher House
Paul said: “Hearing directly from Al last night about how Fisher House has provided care for his colleagues and their families only makes me more passionate to support this incredible facility right here in Birmingham, which in 2027 will host the Invictus Games, featuring many of the brave men and women who have served King and Country and have recovered from their injuries in Fisher House.”
