Forces Mutual team take on trek of Italian Alps to help raise money for bereaved Armed Forces children
Three members of financial services provider, Forces Mutual, have recently completed the arduous task of trekking through the Italian Alps, all to raise money for a charity that is close to the heart of the business.
David Crisp, David Vallery and Heikki Doyle donned their walking boots earlier this month to take on the Tour De Monta Rosa - an eight day and 160km hike of the Swiss and Italian Alps to help raise much needed funds for Scotty’s Little Soldiers, a charity which supports children and young people who have experienced the death of a parent who served in the Armed Forces.
As part of the Royal London group of companies, Forces Mutual provides financial and welfare support to UK military personnel and their families, and has supported Scotty’s Little Soldiers for over three years. David Crisp in particular has driven numerous challenges over the years, including the gruelling Haute Route in 2019 and GR20 in 2018.
David, Heikki and David
Due to the pandemic the Forces Mutual team have been unable to complete the challenges they set themselves over the last year or so, so the guys wanted to more than make up for it with the Tour De Monta Rosa.
And so far, the guys have raised over £500, but are hoping their supporters will get behind them to raise a lot more.
Discussing the challenge, David Crisp said: “This was one of the most challenging hikes we’ve ever done. It was physically challenging and definitely pushed us all to our limits, particularly as we were all carrying a little extra lockdown weight.”
View of the Alps
Scotty’s Little Soldiers means a great deal to David and the Forces Mutual team, and they are always looking at ways they can help raise money for them. Given their work with UK military families they have a close connection to the charity.
David added: “We work with the Armed Forces on a daily basis and know how hard it is for families that have experienced the loss of a loved one. Scotty’s do a fantastic job in supporting the children our fallen heroes have left behind and it’s a cause that is close to the heart of the business.”
Scotty’s Little Soldiers, which was set up in 2010 by war widow Nikki Scott, offers integral support to children and young people who have experienced the death of a parent who served in the Armed Forces.
Nikki saw the devastating impact the death of her husband, Corporal Lee Scott, in 2009 had on their two young children and wanted to help others in the same situation.
The charity is currently providing assistance to hundreds of bereaved Forces children and young people around the UK and services offered include guidance to parents and carers, access to professional child bereavement support, personal education and learning assistance (including grants) and fun activities such as holiday respite breaks and group events. These are all designed to remind the children and young people supported by Scotty’s that they are not alone.
Nikki said: “I can’t thank Forces Mutual enough for their support and for taking on such an epic challenge for Scotty’s once again. Their support over the years has been invaluable and the money raised for this challenge and the challenge done before has meant that we’ve been able to continue to deliver a high level of support to our members at times when they need it the most. I can’t wait to hear what they have planned next.”
