As an army officer, Matt
Maynard led military
operations in some of the world’s most dangerous places.
But the former major withThe Rifles, who left the army after 20 years in 2012 and settled with his family in Kelso, is now using that logistical expertise to help one of the country’s leading service charities.
Help for Heroes (H4H) was launched in 2007 to provide better facilities for servicemen and women wounded since September 11, 2001.
Matt and wife Jo moved to Kelso as Jo has family connections in the area and Matt, 40, now works in the North Sea oil and gas industry.
It was a link via friends to H4H which saw Matt appointed as a local area co-ordinator.
“There’s been quite a few events locally that raised money, but not many volunteers that could be called on for support,” he explained.
“So I was very happy to step in and help. I did eight tours and came through with nothing worse than a broken finger.
“But I know guys who weren’t so lucky. I had a reasonably good friend killed, one of my soldiers was killed in Iraq and others received horrific life-changing injuries.”
As regional co-ordinator, Matt gets notified of any local events raising funds for H4H.
One of the first events he is involved with is an Edinburgh to London bike sponsored ride by 15 injured soldiers, which stops off in Lauder and Jedburgh on May 28.
z Matt can be contacted at www.helpforheroes.org.uk