VAUXHALL Motors has pledged its support over the next two years for the armed forces charity, Help for Heroes.
And Miss England Katrina Hodge - herself a serving soldier - was at the motor giant’s Ellesmere Port plant, which employs hundreds of people from the region, to seal the deal.
Since its beginnings in 1903, Vauxhall has a history of close partnership with the British armed forces. It provided vehicles for both the First and Second World War efforts, while today it extends significant discounts and tax free offers to serving or retired members of HM forces and their immediate family members.
To raise money for Help the Heroes, Vauxhall will be hosting a series of high-profile events, which begin in April, with activities such as track day experiences, rollercoaster and karting challenges and a VXR Power Festival at the Silverstone race track.
Vauxhall retailers up and down the country will also be taking part in a number of fundraising activities to support the campaign.
Katrina Hodge has pledged to work closely with Vauxhall over the coming months and launched the campaign at Ellesmere Port, where she accepted the keys to a new British-built Astra in which she will attend many of the fundraising events.
Bryn Parry, co-founder of Help for Heroes, said: “When Emma and I decided to do our bit to help wounded servicemen in 2007 we had no idea so many people across the UK would decide to join us and together create the Help for Heroes phenomenon.
“People have run, climbed, cycled, swam, parachuted, baked, in fact done just about anything honest and decent to raise money to support our blokes. The money raised, which is £40m to date, is all used to provide direct, practical support to those wounded in the service of our country. Vauxhall’s wonderful fundraising is hugely welcomed.”
Duncan Aldred, Vauxhall’s managing director, said: “Vauxhall is exceptionally proud to be involved with the great work carried out by Help for Heroes.
“We all acknowledge the sacrifices made by the armed forces on our behalf and this association gives us the opportunity to show our support for men and women who have been wounded in conflict.
“Our aim is to ask all our employees, retailers and customers to get involved and raise as much money as we can.”