A family fun day is being organised to raise funds for a Market Drayton soldier who was seriously injured in battle.
Simon Vaughan, 26, of Hodnet, near Market Drayton, suffered a serious brain injury in December 2008 when a vehicle he was travelling in was driven over am improvised explosive device in Helmand Province.
Simon’s wife, Donna, says her husband is making “fantastic” progress and to help aid his recovery the Market Drayton Motocross Club is organising a family fun day in August.
The event will take place on Saturday, August 28, at the Bungalow Field in Ollerton, Market Drayton.
A host of activities have been lined up for the day including giving people the opportunity to take part in a 13 lap fun run around in motocross track.
Other attractions lined up include an army climbing wall, army machinery and an auction.
There will be local food produce for sale as well as a barbecue and bouncy castle amongst the family entertainment.
Donna said that her husband’s condition is improving and that her and the couple’s seven-year-old son, Ben, are very proud of what he has achieved.
She said: “Simon is being treated at Headley Court in Surrey now which is a military hospital. We were always told that he would never be well enough to undergo the rehabilitation that they do there – that’s how bad his injury was but the fact that he has made it there is brilliant.
“We are all so proud of how far he has come and how far he will go. He can now speak by typing through a machine which is fantastic because he has still got his personality and he’s been making us laugh with his jokes.
“Now he is at Headley Court his spirits are really high. Everyone there is part of the military and they are all in the same boat and Simon knows that they will push him to get him as well as they can.
“Before the accident Simon was a big motocross fan and his friends at the Market Drayton club decided to hold the fun day to try and raise funds to bring him home.”
Donna added: “My husband used to take part in motocross and he is still a huge fan. We have just bought a new bungalow for him to come home to but it has been condemned and needs to be knocked down and re-built.
“The money we raise from the fun day will go towards building it back up so he can come home.”
- The event is taking place on Saturday, August 28, from 12noon. Entry is free. Anyone wanting to donate to the Simon Vaughan Brick by Brick fund can call Donna on 07982046658.
By Joseph Masi
