British soldier who survived Taliban siege in Afghanistan offers £10,000 in prizes to raise money for Help For Heroes
A SOLDIER who survived a Taliban siege in Afghanistan is offering thousands of pounds in flights, designer handbags and signed football shirts to raise money for Help For Heroes.
Former soldier Russell Webb, 36, was part of a band of brothers surrounded by hundreds Taliban fighters for weeks in 2008.
3
3
3
He appeared in The Sun then SAS-legend Andy McNab reached his outpost and submitted a report about the siege of Roshan Tower.
Webb was one of thirty soldiers from the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment who defended high ground against non-stop insurgent attacks.
They were left without supplies for weeks because helicopters could not reach them and they had to rely on a convoy of Warrior armored fighting vehicles to smash through Taliban lines.
The father of two children holds one charity lottery on Saturday.
He decided to give back after seeing how army charities helped veterans adjust to civilian life.
Russell said: “When I left the army I was going through a really tough time and I almost needed these charities.
“I was fortunate to have family and friends to lean on, but I’ve seen the work they’ve done with my friends.
“I have also seen my ex-army colleagues do great things to help these charities and I wanted to do my bit.”
He is impressed by the response to his call for prizes.
He added: “It was absolutely amazing. I decided to hold a charity raffle and wrote to everyone I could think of for prizes.
“So many people said yes. I think we have at least £10,000 worth of prizes.
“We have signed football shirts from Chelsea, Liverpool, Nottingham Forest, Millwall, Southampton, Leicester and Leeds.
‘We have a rubgy shirt from the Harlequins.
“We have two McLaren Formula 1 tracksuits, a Mulberry handbag and free open return tickets from Jet2 to wherever they fly.”
Lego donated a set Star Wars Millennium Falcon worth £150 and clothing brand Shackleton donated an outdoor jacket worth £500.
Andy McNab, bestselling author of Bravo Two Zero, called Russell’s work “vital.”
He said: “These types of fundraisers are so important.
“Charities like Help 4 Heroes are still around and supporting people who need support.
“As the years go by we tend to forget, but those who suffer physical or mental harm still need soldiers, veterans, friends, family and most importantly the wider community to rally behind events like this.”
John Carpenter, Fundraising Manager at Help for Heroes Area, said: “We are always pleased to see veterans hosting fundraising events to support our work to provide life-changing assistance to everyone in the Armed Forces community.
“We wish Russell all the best for this upcoming charity raffle and can’t wait to see the people of Chertsey turn out in droves to take part.”
The raffle takes place at The Crown hotel in Chertsey, SurreySaturday from 6 p.m.
The awards will be presented by local beauty queen Steffi Moore.