SOLDIERING ON ANNOUNCES 2015 AWARD WINNERS

Military charity honours the inspirational

LONDON 21 April 2015 – The fifth annual 2015 Soldiering On Awards were presented at the Park Plaza Westminster hotel in central London on 18th April. The winners, decided by a judging panel chaired by General Lord Dannatt, former head of the British Army, were nominated by a host of military charities for their courage, determination, dedication and selfless giving.

Wing Commander Tal Lambert MBE, chairman of the Soldiering on Through Life Trust which supports injured service personnel, their families and promotes military charities, said: "To our service personnel, their families and the charities that support them, you have a special place in the nation's heart. You are an inspiration to us all. You are all winners tonight."

The ceremony was hosted by television presenters Anne Diamond and Christopher Biggins and honoured nine award recipients. The 2015 Soldiering On Award winners included:

• Against All Odds - Andy Reid (nominated by ABF The Soldiers Charity)
• Bowman Training and Rehabilitation - Catherine Cornwell (nominated by Help For Heroes)
• Family Values – Amy & Stuart Robinson (nominated by RAF Association)
• Innovation - Steve McCulley (nominated by Help for Heroes)
• Lifetime Achievement - Guinea Pig Club (nominated by RAF Benevolent Fund and BLESMA)
• Sporting Endeavour - Murray Hambro (nominated by Veterans of War)
• Canine Partner - Memphis & Mick McConnell (nominated by RAF Benevolent Fund)
• Courage - Luke Wigman (nominated by RAF Benevolent Fund)

The People's Choice Award was determined by Daily Telegraph readers who voted overwhelmingly for the Gurkha Welfare Trust for its dedication to relieving poverty among veterans of the revered regiment of the British Army.

Through their votes, Telegraph readers also donated hundreds of pounds to the charities associated with all five nominees who were down-selected by the awards' judging panel. The People's Choice runners-up included:

• Afghan veteran Kevin Ogilvie as nominated by the RAF Benevolent Fund
• Bob Barrett, founder of Forces Sauces as nominated by the Sir Oswald Stoll Foundation
• The dog "SSAFA" and his Tony Robinson as nominated by SSAFA
• Former Royal Marine Spencer Vaughan as nominated by The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity

Soldiering On Through Life Trust was established as a not-for-profit organisation to support injured Service personnel and their families throughout their lives by giving recognition of the inspirational and outstanding achievements of teams or individuals through an annual awards ceremony: The Soldiering On Awards: One Awards Ceremony for the Whole of the Armed Forces Community.

To learn more about the 2015 Soldiering On Awards visit their website at www.soldieringon.org