Essex: Helping soldiers for love of Aaron Lewis
Lieutenant Aaron Lewis - Credit: Peter Lawson/Eastnews Press Agen
THE family of an Essex army officer killed in Afghanistan are helping motivate injured soldiers as they work back to full fitness.
The Aaron Lewis Trust was set up in memory of Lieutenant Aaron Lewis, 26, who was killed while serving with Plymouth-based 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery in December 2008.
His parents Helen and Barry Lewis, from Rochford, presented a £5,000 sound system to Colchester Garrison’s Regional Rehabilitation Unit (RRU).
The unit provides physiotherapy and rehabilitation training for military personnel who have suffered injuries from sports, training or on operations.
Mr Lewis said: “Aaron used to be a personal trainer before he joined the Army and even managed to get some spinning bikes out to Afghanistan for his soldiers to train on.
“Aaron’s family and friends continue to raise money in his memory and we were looking for a local cause to support that combined the military and Aaron’s interests.
“The RRU seemed a perfect fit and Aaron would be proud to know that, through this donation in his memory he was helping fellow soldiers recover from injuries.”
Most Read
- 1 Town centre road closed after becoming flooded in torrential rain
- 2 Fears over impact of cottage plans on landmark Suffolk windmill
- 3 Ex-Town loanee Bonne looks set to depart QPR
- 4 'Nottingham Knockers' targeting homes in east Suffolk village
- 5 Lorry carrying mobile home stopped on A14 in Suffolk for being too wide
- 6 Severe delays on A12 as carriageway floods during extreme rainfall
- 7 Live updates as Suffolk students pick up their A-Level results
- 8 Road near Ipswich flooded as drivers forced to find alternative routes
- 9 Pub with 'gorgeous views' named one of UK's best waterside drinking spots
- 10 'There are qualities we want to add' - McKenna on Town transfer targets
Mr and Mrs Lewis turned on the stereo on Monday with MP Mark Francois, Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans.
Colchester RRU’s Officer Commanding Major Tim Clarke said: “I can’t thank the Lewis family enough for their kind donation. Music is a recognised way of motiv-ation for exercise classes.
“We had a stereo that was on its last legs before and it’s fantastic to have this new equipment.
“Our purpose is to get guys back to full fitness after injuries and this equipment will help motivate them to achieve that.”