Manufacturing Technologies Association annual dinner raises £5,000 for army charity

Capt. Andy Harris, retd. Assistant Regimental Secretary Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, said: "I would like to thank the MTA for their generosity. Income received into the Fusiliers Aid Society is used to provide much needed support to serving and retired Fusiliers who have been wounded on operations in Afghanistan and elsewhere, and to the families of those Fusiliers who paid the ultimate sacrifice by giving their lives for their country." MTA president Mark Ridgway OBE said: "This is certainly an impressive achievement and I would like to thank everyone who donated to this worthy cause. The demands on the Fusiliers Aid Society have been heavy in recent years and the contributions that the MTA has made have been much appreciated." The Fusiliers Aid Society also supports those Fusiliers who have fallen on hard times, many of whom are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The Society does this by making grants for the benefit of individuals, which are generally disbursed by SSAFA or The Royal British Legion. In all the operations the Regiment has been engaged in over the past 40 years, it is those that have been killed that have made the headlines. For every soldier killed, however, there are at least five wounded, many with life changing injuries. These soldiers, and their families, will need help for the rest of their lives. Income from the fund, as well as donations, helps to support this work. All the money the Society raises is used for benevolence, as it has virtually no overheads. The demands on the Society's funds are ever increasing, as the long years of war and other operational deployments take their toll. 1RRF (First Regiment Royal Fusiliers) is just about to start a six-month tour in Afghanistan, and 2RRF will be providing a reserve component. The Regiment is hoping for a quiet summer, but the welfare fund must stand ready for all eventualities.