Lawyers And Injured Soldier To Raise Funds

Heroic South Yorkshire war hero Ben Parkinson will take the next steps on his road to recovery when he joins a team of his injury lawyers to take part in the Sheffield Lord Mayors 10k run in April.

Lance Bombardier Parkinson, 26, from Doncaster, will walk alongside a team from Irwin Mitchell’s specialist Armed Forces team, which represented Ben in his battle for rehabilitation funds, when they take on the fundraising run at Don Valley Stadium on 17 April 2011.

It will be one of the first times Ben, who is one of the most seriously injured surviving British soldiers, has walked on his prosthetic legs in public – but he has vowed to walk as far as he can to support the team and their bid to raise money for forces charity Troop Aid.

Ben said: “Irwin Mitchell has supported me and my family so much in recent years and in Troop Aid the team is raising money for a valuable and worthwhile cause. I’m delighted to be able to help out and hope they can achieve their goals.

“It has been a challenge learning to walk on my new prosthetic legs but I’m beginning to get the hang of it. My rehabilitation has been going really well and I hope to continue making good progress.”

Irwin Mitchell’s Armed Forces team helped Ben and his mother, Diane Dernie, fight for fairer compensation to be given to injured armed forces personnel. They will compete in the event to raise vital funds for Troop Aid – a charity which supports injured troops when they return home from war zones.

Troop Aid’s work includes providing Grab Bags containing basic essentials for patients of military hospitals who arrive back without their personal belongings or clothing. The charity also sponsors two rooms at Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham, which can be used by the families of Armed Forces Personnel who are in intensive care.

Andrew Buckham, an associate solicitor at Irwin Mitchell, said; “Troop Aid is a small charity which provides a valuable and important service to injured Armed Forces personnel, and it relies on charitable donations to support its work.

“People like Ben have been supported by Troop Aid and it is amazing to see the difference support like this can make on people’s lives.

“Ben’s determination and fundraising generosity has inspired troops and civilians alike and we are proud that he will be joining us in the Lord Mayor's run. We’re already almost half way to our fundraising target but any extra donations will be received gratefully.”

Ben was travelling in a Land Rover when it detonated a landmine in Helmand Province, in Afghanistan. As a result of the explosion he suffered 40 serious injuries, including breaking his back in three places, puncturing both lungs and fracturing every rib in his chest.

He also suffered a ruptured spleen, a broken cheek, nose and jaw, and had to have both of his legs amputated above the knee. He was in a coma for almost four months, lost the power of speech and suffered a serious brain injury.

He has made a remarkable recovery and now supports various charity causes dedicated to helping injured troops.

To support the team and donate to the cause please visit: http://www.justgiving.com/Jenny-Barton