The Rifles Care for Casualties Appeal

The Rifles is very much a Winchester regiment, headquartered at Peninsula Barracks with battalions based across the UK; the regiment holds the Freedom of the City of Winchester. “C4C” is an appeal specifically to support casualties of war and their families for the duration of their need, as well as providing support for families of those who lost their lives.

Lance Corporal Stephan van Niekerk was seriously injured by an IED whilst serving in Afghanistan with 3 Rifles in 2009. However, despite his appalling injuries, Stephan has ‘been determined to make my life as close as possible to what it was before I was injured and participate fully in family life’. With the help of Care for Casualties that is exactly what he has done. His wife Sadie who used to train race horses in France, keeps two horses at their home near Taunton and C4C purchased a quad bike which now allows Stephan to play his part in looking after the horses, accompany Sadie on hacks in the local countryside and walk his two dogs. His quality of life has been enhanced considerably

Thanks to funding from Care for Casualties, four injured Riflemen were able to travel to Breckenridge, Colorado last December to take part in a disabled ski event. The soldiers joined 150 injured American Servicemen for a week’s skiing instruction run by Disabled Sport USA. These recently wounded Riflemen were able to enjoy a short respite from their rehabilitation as well as meet others with similar injuries in a social environment. Adventurous and sporting pursuits such as skiing are enormously beneficial as they improve an individual’s confidence, self esteem and social integration but they also demonstrate that regardless of injury the enjoyment of sporting challenges is still possible.

Charity No. 1119061