Heroes get £10K of help from the travel trade

The travel trade and members of The Queen’s Royal Hussars (QRH) joined forces to play 36 holes at the exclusive Mannings Heath Golf Club, near Horsham, in aid of Help for Heroes early in July.

Organiser Nikki Killick, who works as a PA for the day’s main sponsor, Virgin Holidays, and is also the wife of Staff Sergeant Dave Killick of the regiment, had previously brought eight members of Virgin Holidays and QRH together for a charity event in May 2010, in memorial to a young member of the regiment who had been killed. Staff Sergeant Dave Killick had also been injured whilst serving in Iraq in 2006. At the time, the regiment were so grateful for the gesture that they repaid the group by inviting them to their base in Paderborn, Germany, including a tour of the tank park.

Last week’s event saw 72 golfers from around the travel industry joined by eight members of QRH at the charity day, battling both each other and the Great British Summer! Starting with what can only be described as monsoon conditions in the morning, which saw the usually members-only Kingfisher course beset by standing water and near-zero visibility, their final round was played – ironically enough - in sunshine on the Waterfall Course. Playing a Stableford format, the overall winners for the day were members of Harlequin Hotels and Resorts team, followed by one of the teams entered from Virgin Holidays itself.

The day was finished off with a Gala Dinner and auction, in which Regimental Sergeant Major Darren ‘Cas’ Potter used his “David Dickenson” skills to help bring the total raised for the day to approx £10k.

Amanda Wills, Managing Director said “I’m delighted that we were able to be a part of this event, and could support such a worthwhile charity. Help for Heroes does a fantastic job for our Servicemen and women and I’m honoured that Virgin Holidays could be involved in such a deserving cause. Thank you everyone for taking part!”

Nikki Killick is now making plans for the next event in 2012.