With more than 100 items up for grabs in this year’s BFBS Big Salute auction you can help raise vital funds for BLESMA, Blind Veterans UK, Combat Stress, FAB (Families’ Activity Breaks) and Veterans Aid
From thrilling days out skydiving, flyboarding or zorbing, to experiencing live events such as Status Quo in concert, the filming of Celebrity Juice, or tennis on Centre Court at Wimbledon, you can treat yourself to some fun in aid of five brilliant charities.
Bid on exclusive signed sporting memorabilia, books, music, celebrity photographs, or even overnight stays and limited edition prints. All items can be viewed online atwww.bfbs.com/bigsalute/auction and on eBay – search for ‘BFBS Big Salute’ – until the auction lots close live on air across the BFBS radio network on Friday 1st November.
And in the build up to the 2013 auction, we’ve scheduled radio and TV coverage to explain how money raised by the BFBS Big Salute benefits our chosen charities.
From Monday 28th October until Friday 1st November on BFBS TV’s British Forces News, there’ll be a unique five-part series focusing on the personal stories of those who have been helped by the five BFBS Big Salute charities.
Simon Brown, a member of Blind Veterans UK who lost his left eye in 2006 in Iraq, and Louis Smit, a BLESMA member who had his lower right leg amputated after being wounded in Afghanistan, are just two of the beneficiaries that share their stories in graphic detail. These can also be watched on our website at www.bfbs.com/bigsalute/charities.
The 2013 BFBS Big Salute live auction will be broadcast across the BFBS radio network on Friday 1st November, with national coverage in the UK and Northern Ireland from 10am – please see local press releases for worldwide timings.
You can also listen on DAB Digital Radio, online atwww.bfbs.com , via our digital TV service on Sky Guide 0211 and Freesat Channel 786, and via our BFBS radio smartphone app.
BFBS TV’s flagship programme, British Forces News, is broadcast live every weekday in the UK on Information TV at 18.30, on Sky 212, Freesat 401, or online at www.bfbs.com/news. It’s also broadcast on BFBS Extra at 18.30 CET for personnel and families based across the Forces world.
BFBS Big Salute Supports
BLESMA – (British Limbless Ex Service Men’s Association) provides support to all servicemen and women who have lost limbs or the use of limbs or eyes in the service of their country.
Blind Veterans UK (formerly St Dunstan’s) gives lifelong support to blind and visually impaired ex-servicemen and women.
Combat Stress provides treatment and support for ex-servicemen and women with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety disorders.
FAB (Families’ Activity Breaks) organises fun and challenging holidays for bereaved military families so they can meet and socialise with others who have experienced a similar loss.
Veterans Aid gives practical help – such as housing or financial assistance – as well as advice and advocacy to services veterans.