Ian Gough becomes Hire A Hero Patron
Hire a Hero Chief Executive Gerry Hill MBE QGM + Bar, Hire a Hero Patron Ian Gough & Assistant Chief Executive Mike Peckham
©Hire A Hero
Former Wales international and Newport second row Ian Gough is to become a patron of the Hire A Hero charity.
The double Grand Slam winner, who will soon rejoin former club and home region Newport Gwent Dragons, joins Colonel Tim Collins as a patron of the charity based in Mamhilad, Pontypool.
Gough was capped 64 times by Wales and will now take on a bigger role with the charity, which supports serving and ex-military personnel through the transition into civilian life.
The announcement coincides with the 37-year-old's return to Newport from London Irish, and he calls it 'a big honour'.
More information on the work of Hire a Hero can be found by going to: www.hireahero.org.uk, while more information on the Forest Activities Festival is available via the website: http://forestactivitiesfestival.co.uk
"It’s a big honour having known the guys who set it up and being talked through what the charity does and how it helps servicemen," explained Gough.
"It strikes a chord with me and is something I really wanted to get involved in right from the start."
Gough's work with the charity began during last year's Mount Elbrus fundraising expedition which saw 10 Hire A Hero supporters attempt one of the world's summits.
"Literally it was a fleeting conversation with Gerry Hill (Hire a Hero Chief Executive) as I was leaving [a charity rugby game] and said I’d like to get involved.
"Within a week I had his people on the phone to me and organisaing a 6,000 mile round trip up Europe’s highest mountain!"
Hire A Hero chief executive Gerry Hill MBE QGM + Bat is delighted to have Gough on board as a patron.
"Ian has been a great friend to the charity for some time," he said Hill.
"We’re very happy that future work we do with Ian will be in an official capacity, as a Hire a Hero Patron.
"It’s very timely that Ian will become Patron ahead of his move back to the Dragons, Ian is a Cwmbran boy and we are based where his roots lie, and we are very much looking forward to having Ian on board."
And as patron, Gough hopes to continue taking a hands-on approach and urges everyone to do the same.
"Just have a look at what we do, look at the website, look at the events, turn up at events, support us in any way you can.
"Take a little bit of time to take a look at what we do and see how it’s helping people that have helped you."
His first engagement as patron will see him open the Forest Activities Festival in the grounds of the Speech House Hotel, Forest of Dean.
