Lenzie soldier backs Herald campaign
A BRAVE teenage soldier has given his backing to the Herald's 'Remember Our Heroes: Past and Present' campaign.
The campaign is being run in conjunction with the Support Our Soldiers charity.
The charity's Christmas parcel appeal is the ONLY parcel appeal officially sanctioned by the Ministry of Defence.
The aim of the campaign is to send parcels to the troops posted on active duty in time for Christmas.
Earlier this year, Ross Nelson, from Lenzie, spent more than six months in Afghanistan's Helmand Province with the Scots Guards.
This week he gave his full support to the Herald's 'Remember Our Heroes: Past and Present' campaign.
Ross (19) joined the army in 2006 and was on ceremonial duty at Buckingham Palace before being posted to Afghanistan.
While in the middle-east war zone, Ross received parcels sent from his mum, Anne Marie, which he said "greatly boosted his morale".
He told the Herald: "When the chenuke helicopter arrives and you see the mail bags coming off it is the best feeling ever.
"If there are guys who haven't received anything it can get them down, so we share out whatever we get.
"I enjoyed getting little luxuries like crisps or sweets.
"My mum sent chocolate once, but it had melted by the time it arrived
"Being over there can be difficult and the fighting can be terrifying, but you try not to think too much about what you are involved in.
"We were often under heavy mortar attacks, sometimes twice a day, and no choppers could get in or out for three weeks.
"Everyone ran out of cigarettes and we were trading personal items with Afghan civilians."
With Christmas approaching it can be a hard time for those in the forces who are away from their family and friends.
Ross said: "I was away for Christmas last year and we got cards sent out to us that school pupils had made.
"It felt great to get a bit of support and it was just nice to think people were thinking about you. It is really difficult being away from home at that time of year."
Donations can be handed into the Herald office at 11 Dalrymple Court, Kirkintilloch.
The campaign will run until November 12.
All of the donated goods will be will be parcelled up by Support Our Soldiers and posted out to troops in time for Christmas.
Donations have already been handed in to the Herald office. The key is to keep items small and light as they are packed into shoeboxes which are weight and size restricted. Please note that aerosols, alcohol and lighters are strictly prohibited.
See this week's Herald for more details or call 0141 775 0040.
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Weather for Kirkintilloch
Thursday 24 May 2012
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