Two commemorative parachute drops for the 75th anniversary of D-Day (6th June 1944) are set to raise essential funds for the National Facial Oral and Oculoplastic Research Centre (NFORC), funded by Saving Faces and its partner the British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (BAOMS), and Special Forces veterans charity Pilgrim Bandits.
Ex-paratrooper Frank Fletcher has volunteered to fundraise for both charities by making the two sponsored parachute jumps, which as in 1944 will take place from Dakota aircraft.
The first drop took place near Caen in Normandy on 5th June, and the second will take place near Arnhem in the Netherlands on 17th September. The Battle of Arnhem was a significant battle amongst Airborne forces. The film ‘A Bridge Too Far’ portrays the events of the battle.
“I wanted to make the two jumps as a mark of respect for my former colleagues and to commemorate what they achieved. I have seen facial wounds as a result of conflict, and the work of maxillofacial surgeons and the support both charities give is amazing – and that’s why it’s important to raise awareness and money to continue the work they do.” – Frank
BAOMS President Sat Parmar, Consultant Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, said that working in Birmingham with the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine meant he was only too familiar with the injuries our forces can sustain: “This is a chance for all of us in BAOMS to unite in an important fundraising activity and sponsor the ex-paratrooper Frank Fletcher who will make the parachute drops.”
BAOMS has partnered with us for many years on projects. In 2012, late BAOMS President Barrie Evans set up NFORC as the BAOMS Clinical Research Centre: “This further cemented our partnership,” Sat Parmar explained, “while Saving Faces continues to research into the causes and treatments of facial injuries and head and neck cancer.
“It would be fantastic if serving and past armed forces colleagues as well as all BAOMS Fellows, members and trainees could spread the word widely and support these two worthy charities.
We urge you to support both these worthwhile charities who have been linked as described above and any donations that are gratefully received will be shared between the two charities, Pilgrim Bandits and Saving Faces.”
The money raised will help Saving Faces continue essential research to reduce the incidence of facial injuries, disorders and diseases such as oral cancer. The funds will be shared with Pilgrim Bandits, a wounded soldier charity for predominantly ex-paratroopers and SAS.
You can sponsor Frank here: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fund/frank-fletcher-dday-parachute-jumps
