SINCE it was founded six years ago today, Help for Heroes has become one of the country’s best known military charities – with Worcestershire playing a major part.

The charity has raised more than £170 million to support injured soldiers and veterans of past conflicts.

Heading up the county’s fund-raising is Ian Baldry, who has been working with the charity since the start.

Mr Baldry, who served with the Territorial Army (TA) as a commissioned officer, in the Parachute Regiment and within the Royal Logistic Co-rps, first got involved in 2007 to give something back to servicemen and women.

He said: “The reason I got involved was two-fold. Having spent many years with the TA, I felt it was time to give something back.

“My son Cameron is a commissioned officer in the Roy-al Engineers, has served in Afghanistan and is currently training to be a bomb disposal officer.

“I felt very strongly that we can’t prevent these injuries occurring, but with the help of other military charities we can certainly do a lot to help these souls get better and to live a more meaningful life.”

Over the past six years, since being formed by Bryn and Emma Parry, the charity has achieved a great deal.

One initiative alongside the Ministry of Defence and the Royal British Legion is the Defence Recover Capability Programme, which encompasses all the stages of support available to the wounded to either help them return to duty or move towards civilian life.

At each stage H4H has funded what it calls the Road to Recovery as well as a £65 million project to develop and equip four recovery centres in Colchester, Tidworth, Catterick and Plymouth.

Mr Baldry said: “I have met so many people from all walks of the community and although Worcestershire is not a large county we have certainly been very proactive.

“We have made a very respectable contribution thr-ough the splendid efforts of members of the public who have held fund-raising events, not ignoring the outstanding work that has been carried out by H4H Team Worcestershire.”