An army veteran from Salisbury, is one of 41 veterans, carers, and staff from Help for Heroes, who will pay tribute to comrades and family members who served, by joining the Cenotaph march-past on Remembrance Sunday (10th November), in London.
The veterans, who have all been supported by the Charity, along with members of staff who have also served, will form part of the Help for Heroes’ delegation attending the annual parade, which sees 10,000 members of the veteran community marching shoulder to shoulder in an act of remembrance along Whitehall.
Julie-Anne Fulford, aged 37, was inspired to pursue a career in nursing following her work experience at Salisbury Hospital. She became a nurse in the Queen Alexander Royal Army Nursing Corp and, during her 16-year career, did two tours of Afghanistan, went to Sierra Leone to support during the Ebola break-out and was the first military nurse to take on the nurse in charge role at Frimley Park hospital in Surrey, during the Covid-19 pandemic. She was recognised with an Associate Royal Red Cross in the 2022 New Year’s Honours.
Julie-Anne is now a Very Seriously Injured Complex Case Manager at Help for Heroes, providing bespoke support for veterans living with catastrophic injuries, including traumatic brain injury, multiple limb loss, sight loss, paralysis and serious mental health conditions.
Julie-Anne said: “This is my first time taking part in the Remembrance Sunday march-past at the Cenotaph. It’s so important to remember those people who have lost their lives during service and those who are still struggling with illness and injury. I cared for a number of the veterans I’ll be marching with, when they returned from Afghanistan.
“It will be emotional for me, as I know the on-going struggles they face and the challenges they’ve had to overcome, just to be able to take part in the march-past.”
A spokesman for Help for Heroes added: “As we join the nation to commemorate the men and women who lost their lives while serving our country, Help for Heroes also remembers those still fighting their own battles today.
“We remain at the side of veterans, and their families who are struggling with painful injuries, mental trauma, isolation, and more – providing life-changing support for as long as it takes – fighting for the peace they deserve.”
Help for Heroes champions the Armed Forces community and helps them live well after service. The charity helps veteran families to recover and get on with their lives. Thanks to the generosity of the British public, it has already supported more than 31,000 people and won’t stop until every veteran gets the support they deserve.
The Charity supports veterans and their families, from any branch of the UK military – regulars or reserves – irrespective of length or place of service, and locally embedded civilians who worked under the command of UK Armed Forces.