Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, has expressed his condolences over the death of Bryn Parry, co-founder of Help for Heroes. In a rare personal message shared on social media, Prince William described Parry as a “life-affirming, inspirational man”, and acknowledged the impact of his work with the charity.
Parry, a former soldier and cartoonist, set up Help for Heroes in 2007 with his wife Emma, after visiting wounded soldiers in hospital. The charity has reportedly helped more than 25,000 service people who were injured in the line of duty.
Prince William has been a long-time supporter of Help for Heroes and the work they do. A decade ago, he proudly displayed his Help For Heroes wristband while making the opening speech at the UEFA Congress in London, just two days after Drummer Lee Rigby was brutally attacked while wearing a Help For Heroes jumper.
Recently, both Prince William and Prince Harry joined forces to open a new Help for Heroes centre in Wiltshire. The two brothers have a shared passion for supporting servicemen and women, with Harry setting up the Invictus Games for wounded and disabled servicepeople in 2014.
Help for Heroes was initially responsible for the training and selection of Team UK at the Invictus Games from 2014 to 2018. They worked closely with the Ministry of Defence and the Royal British Legion to provide support for the event. Although they are no longer involved with the Invictus Games, their legacy continues to inspire and support those who have served their country.
Bryn Parry’s passing is a great loss to the Help for Heroes community, and his legacy will be remembered for the impact he had on so many people’s lives. Prince William’s message serves as a reminder of the importance of supporting those who have served their country, and the ongoing work of Help for Heroes to make a difference to their lives.
