Registered Charity Number: 1134594
Copyright © 2009 by "Golden Grove Mansion Appeal" • All Rights reserved • E-Mail: kevin@goldengroveappeal.com
Registered as a company limited by guarantee in England & Wales number 7094321
Registered as a company limited by guarantee in England & Wales number 7094321
September Upcoming Events
Lcpl Dean Spencer
A real life Amman Valley hero is gearing up to put his best foot forward in order to raise money for his comrades in arms.
Twenty-one-year-old Lance Corporal Dean Spencer, of Llandybie, has already served on two tours of Afghanistan and another in Iraq.
But rather than spend his leave time with his feet up, the former Amman Valley and Ysgol Tre-gib pupil is about to set off on a 50-mile trek to raise money for the Golden Grove Mansion – Healing the Wounds Appeal.
Dean, of 35 Engineers, earned a place in the nation’s hearts aged just 20 when he was mentioned in dispatches after he braved intensive fire to save a wounded comrade during a fire-fight in the notorious Helmand Province.
Dean was able to administer first aid to his wounded driver pal before heading back to the abandoned vehicle to lay explosive charges and blow it up before it fell into enemy hands.
Yesterday )Thursday, August 26), Dean set out from the Red Cow, Llandybie, on a two-day 50-mile trek to Swansea and back using only the basic equipment he uses while on duty.
"I will only be using the kit I have when I’m out in the field," said Dean. "There won’t be any tents or home comforts, just the stuff I used in Afghanistan."
Dean decided to give his backing to the Golden Grove campaign after witnessing how the horrors of war can effect front-line troops.
"A very close friend of mine is suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and I wanted to do something to help," he said.
"No one at home really has any idea the things we face on a day-to-day basis, it can really effect you badly.
"At the moment, the only help returning soldiers have is in England. There is nothing in Wales at all for the lads who come home and I want to help change that."
Dean planned his trek in the hope of raising £500 for appeal, but has quickly found he has more support than he ever dreamt of.
"The response has been fantastic," said Dean.
"To begin with I hoped to raise £500, but it has developed into something much, much bigger."
Dean has already amassed more than £5,000 in prizes from firms happy to donate to such a good cause and he expects that to be just a drop in the ocean.
To mark his return to the Red Cow, Llandybie, tomorrow (August 28), the pub will be hosting a grand fun day to raise further funds with a host of special events and prizes.
Twenty-one-year-old Lance Corporal Dean Spencer, of Llandybie, has already served on two tours of Afghanistan and another in Iraq.
But rather than spend his leave time with his feet up, the former Amman Valley and Ysgol Tre-gib pupil is about to set off on a 50-mile trek to raise money for the Golden Grove Mansion – Healing the Wounds Appeal.
Dean, of 35 Engineers, earned a place in the nation’s hearts aged just 20 when he was mentioned in dispatches after he braved intensive fire to save a wounded comrade during a fire-fight in the notorious Helmand Province.
Dean was able to administer first aid to his wounded driver pal before heading back to the abandoned vehicle to lay explosive charges and blow it up before it fell into enemy hands.
Yesterday )Thursday, August 26), Dean set out from the Red Cow, Llandybie, on a two-day 50-mile trek to Swansea and back using only the basic equipment he uses while on duty.
"I will only be using the kit I have when I’m out in the field," said Dean. "There won’t be any tents or home comforts, just the stuff I used in Afghanistan."
Dean decided to give his backing to the Golden Grove campaign after witnessing how the horrors of war can effect front-line troops.
"A very close friend of mine is suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and I wanted to do something to help," he said.
"No one at home really has any idea the things we face on a day-to-day basis, it can really effect you badly.
"At the moment, the only help returning soldiers have is in England. There is nothing in Wales at all for the lads who come home and I want to help change that."
Dean planned his trek in the hope of raising £500 for appeal, but has quickly found he has more support than he ever dreamt of.
"The response has been fantastic," said Dean.
"To begin with I hoped to raise £500, but it has developed into something much, much bigger."
Dean has already amassed more than £5,000 in prizes from firms happy to donate to such a good cause and he expects that to be just a drop in the ocean.
To mark his return to the Red Cow, Llandybie, tomorrow (August 28), the pub will be hosting a grand fun day to raise further funds with a host of special events and prizes.
