Countryfile Live 2019 - Blenheim Palace

16 August 2019

SSAFA Oxfordshire had a Great four days at Country File live in Blenheim Palace. The aim was to raise awareness, recruit some volunteers and sell what we do and reach out to those individuals who need our support. The final piece was to raise some monies and have some fun!

I think it’s fair to say we achieved all of these. We completed 743 miles on two very old exercise bikes, with some volunteers achieving greatness for themselves. WO Barry Tanswell completed the most miles in one day at 100 miles. This is following open-heart surgery under 12 months ago. Becky from 241 Sig sqn did her first-ever charity cycle and completed 70 miles (I think) which was a mammoth achievement. Many of the team of wonderful volunteers had a cycle, Ian the chair his wife Vicky and Irish Annie all climbed on at some point during the four days. The highlight of the ride was being joined by an Olympian Helen Reeve along with her Bronze medal, and on the final day at the end of the ride John Craven popped by for photoshoot, which was very fitting as we were located along Craven way for the last two days of the show.

We have recruited some new volunteers, which need some follow up for Oxfordshire and one in Wiltshire and some individuals who now know more about SSAFA and where they can get support from.

The awareness raised was brilliant, with Ted Little being hashtagged and photographed all over the place. He made it to two of the main stages and had the bronze medal around his neck for a photoshoot.

Ian, our branch Chairman said:

We will never know just how much we were able to reach out to people who needed help, however, I personally referred individual onto Oxfordshire branch and other welfare agencies including Veterans Gateway.

The monies taken is about £1800 with monies still dripping in from the donations for the dog poo bag holders the portable dog bowls, and piggy banks.