A PAPHOS based non-profit organisation which provides holidays for wounded servicemen and women is appealing to the public for help, as they are desperately short of accommodation for June, July and August.
Founder of MARCH – Military and Retired Cyprus Holidays for Heroes – told the Sunday Mail: “We are absolutely desperate and urgently need donated accommodation for the summer, as we are inundated with requests, especially during the school summer holidays.”
MARCH operates holidays for injured or traumatised military serving or non-serving personnel and has become hugely successful over the last six years. The non-profit organisation has catered for all types of injuries including: tetraplegics, paraplegics, the blind, burns victims and amputees of all descriptions, and also those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Wilson set up MARCH with wife Barbara in 2010.
“This is a way in which wounded serving and retired personnel can enjoy a break that they deserve and relax. By members of the public donating their properties they are ensuring that these people have the privacy to fully enjoy their holiday,” he said.
Wilson said that one ex-serviceman hoping to holiday in Paphos with his wife and family in the summer is Martyn Compton. He suffered 75 per cent third-degree burns all over his body while serving in Afghanistan, said Wilson.
“He is one of the people that I’m trying to find a home with a private pool for, and I really hope that someone can help.”
Compton joined the army in 2000 and served in the Household Cavalry for 14 years. In 2006, on his first tour of Afghanistan, he was part of a patrol of small tanks which was ambushed. His vehicle was blown up by an improvised explosive device, which killed three of the crew. Compton, the only remaining crew member, was shot at with rocket propelled grenades which blew up the engine block and engulfed him in flames.
He managed to crawl out, although he was on fire and as attempted to put himself out, he was shot twice. Since then, he has undergone more than 500 hours of operations and years of rehabilitation.
In 2010, he discovered KartForce and has gone on to compete as part of a high level team, taking part in several 24hr races, including the Le Mans 24hr, British 24hr and Daytona 24hr.
He was appointed the first KartForce Ambassador and in 2015, he was selected to be one of four founding members of Team BRIT, a new division of KartForce aimed at team endurance car racing.
“These people are so inspirational, and it’s really important to us to try and do something to help them have a break from it all,” said Wilson.
“We have about 23 properties on our books all over the Paphos district, but most are for use off peak season. I have about 20 wounded servicemen and women coming to Cyprus for holidays, including three double amputees. If a property has a couple of steps, it’s not a problem, or a bedroom downstairs would be ideal.”
The MARCH founder also has hand controls that he can fit if any of the guests rent a car, as they work alongside a rental company.
Homeowners give their properties for free for one or two weeks. Prior to the stay, Wilson visits the property to check its suitability and pairs it with the right guest. The non-profit organisation then pays for it to be cleaned, and has a welcome package placed at the property.
Everything that is used is laundered and put back in place, and the house is re-cleaned once the individual or family leaves.
This is made possible by donations gained from the Peyia Remembrance service which MARCH organises every year as well as donations from local churches.
“A holiday in Paphos can make such a difference to someone’s life and we would be so grateful is people could generously donate their properties.”
MARCH recently hit the headlines concerning a donated mini bus used to carry wounded service personnel during their holidays to Cyprus. According to Wilson, the organisation has been banned by the transport ministry from using it because taxi drivers have objected.
The road transport department had assured that they would help Wilson go through all of the procedures correctly, so that the minibus can get back on the road. But as yet, no action has been taken.
If you can donate a property: www.march-cy.org[email protected] 00357 99850355
