Hohne, Germany. Same Difference, Chelsea FC and lots of Little Troopers!

It had been a long time in the planning but the time was right to take My Daddy is a Soldier Adventures to Germany, the Brigade had deployed on a nine month tour of Afghanistan and we wanted to put a smile on some little faces.

32 Engineer Regiment were fundamental in the weekend happening, without their support it would not have happened. We arranged for Sean and Sarah from Same Difference to run a Pop Academy and Chelsea FC Foundation to come with 7 coaches to run a football day.

The weekend was overwhelming in so many ways, we met so many amazing families, the warmth we were greeted with was touching. We spoke to so many people who agreed the Little Troopers need the support we provide so much and we achieved making over 230 children smile in times that are tough for them with a soldier parent away for so many months.

For me it was a weekend I will never forget, I cried some tears....the charity is growing into something I never dreamed of and to see so many benefitting makes all the hours worthwhile but also the children make me never want to give up, I want to make sure EVERY child with a British Army soldier parent(s) has the opportunity to be supported by us and our events and resources.

On Saturday a little girl come up to me and said 'I really really miss my daddy' I wanted to squeeze her tight, 'I can't bring your daddy home today but I can make sure you have an amazing day' later that day sure enough I saw the little girl skipping out the door. Mission accomplished! She had come in a sad little girl missing her daddy and for one day she forgot her worries.

The entire weekend was a total success with an extra special thank you to 32 Engr Regt who presented us with a very unexpected cheque for E1,600 from the Saturday evenings fundraising Oktoberfest which we were so grateful to receive.

We wish all the soldiers a safe tour and we hope we brought a small positive at the beginning of a long tour and we hope to see all the brave Little Troopers again very soon.

An amazing weekend in the history of My Daddy is a Soldier Adventures, one many will remember for a very long time.

Louise xx

Same Difference brings some POP to Aldershot!

4th February 2012 and Sean and Sarah from Same Difference bought their Pop Academy to Aldershot for children of My Daddy is a Soldier Adventures. I'm not quite sure I've ever met nicer people, they were so accomodating and commited to running a days workshop for the children.

40 British Army children from Aldershot and surrounding areas came to the Pop Academy, Tesco donated the refreshments and Aldershot Garrison Sports Centre donated the workshop area, it was a fantastic day and great fun was had by all! Children sang, learnt dance routines and performance techniquies all taught personally by Same Difference.

I really wanted this post to be about was how far we have come, how many children we are managing to reach and the difference our events are now making. We always said if we put a smile on just one British Army childs face it would be an achievement and that we have definately achieved.

At the end of the Pop Academy the children put on a performance, I sat with tears in my eyes so proud of that group of children and so proud of the community we are creating.

I wanted to share the below comments we recieved:

"thank you for all your hard work with the pop academy, my 3 girls loved it so much..you do a great job so keep it up.xxxx"

"Thank you sooo much for such an amazing day yesterday x My little girl hasn't stopped talking about it x"

"many thanks again for a fab day, the boys had a great afternoon."

This particular quote captures it all and makes every second of our journey to date worthwhile:

"Fantastic day have not seen XXXXX that happy since his dad went away.. Thanks for arranging it you guys are doing something so truely wonderful, and we can't thank you enough"

To top if off we made front page news the week after!

So do continue to support My Daddy is a Soldier Adventures, 2012 is a fundamental year for us and we need all the help and support we can get, the journey only continues if you join us on it!

Remember its For the Little Troopers at Home....