Street party raises nearly £3,000 for Thank The Forces charity

A 'GOOD old fashioned' street party has raised close to three thousand pounds for a Sussex charity which supports British Forces serving in Afghanistan.

Thank The Forces Charity hosted the street party, which was the brainchild of Kim Peppiatt and son Keaton, at Chestnut Walk, Little Common on August 1.

Keaton, 12, has won numerous awards for his volunteer work for Thank The Forces, including a prestigious 'Child of Courage Award' from HRH Prince Harry in 2009.

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The party kicked off with the arrival of the Lord Lieutenant Peter Field, and Mayor of Bexhill, Jimmy Carroll. Hundreds of supporters attended the event and they clapped and cheered as the '1066 Pipe and Drums Band' played a medley of music.

As the VIPs took their places the crowd, including many who had travelled from all over the county, poured into Chestnut Walk, cheering as the 1066 Pipe and Drums band played a new piece of music dedicated to the British Force serving in Afghanistan.

The afternoon of dancing and fun continued with music performed by The 'Howlin Blues Band'. They sang and played a varied selection of music which had people dancing in the street whilst onlookers enjoyed a hog roast and an ice cold Pimms at the bar.

Thank The Forces Charity is the only MOD approved Charity in Sussex authorised by the MOD to send gift boxes to front line troops serving in the Operation Theatre of Afghanistan.

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Founder Sue Smith said: "The afternoon surpassed all expectations, the sun shone, the crowds arrived and I would like to thank everyone for their amazing support.

"Keaton is a real trooper, he and his mum Kim pulled out all the stops and worked so hard to make the street party the huge success it was.

"A good old fashioned British street party is what they planned and that is exactly what they achieved.

"All money raised will be used to buy usable, needed and wanted items to fill gift boxes that will be sent via Thank The Forces Charity to our brave men and woman of the British Armed Forces serving in Afghanistan."

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Sue's son Carl Moir is a soldier serving in the British Army with 36 Eng Regt. It was whilst Carl was serving in Afghanistan in 2007 '“ 2008 that Sue said she realised that the public needed a way to "let our brave troops know the public care about them, wish them well and thank them for their service and sacrifices."

Sue formed Thank The Forces Charity in 2007.

For further information visit the website at: www.thanktheforces.com

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