A FORMER soldier is taking to the hills to thank the Royal British Legion after it helped him get his life back on track.

Mike Hewlett, 40, a former Royal Green Jacket, was about to have his house repossessed at the start of the year when he fell behind on his mortgage.

After having an operation on his hand and knee the self-employed carpenter found he was unable to work and things were looking bleak until he turned to the British Legion for support.

Mr Hewlett, of Andersons Close, Kidlington, said: "I had not even thought about going to the British Legion for help, it was only after talking to a few people that I gave them a call.

"I had a couple of visits from the local field officer and before long they had given me the financial help I needed."

Neither he nor the legion would divulge exactly how much he received, but it was described as "several thousand pounds".

Now Mr Hewlett is back working and fully recovered from his operations, he is gearing up to complete the Three Peaks Challenge - and raise £10,000 for the Royal British Legion.

Mr Hewlett and his friends, Mark Pepper, 34, Paul Winfield and Chris Copper, 33, also from Kidlington, will start their 24-hour challenge on May 3.

Starting off at Ben Nevis in Scotland, they will head to Scafell Pike in the Lake District before ending with an assault on Mount Snowdon in Wales.

In total, the climbs are expected to take 14 hours, with ten hours of driving between each of the three mountains.

Mr Hewlett said it was great to be able to do something to pay back such a worthy charity.

He added: "A lot of people think the Legion is just about older servicemen from the two wars and poppies.

"But they are helping servicemen and women who are coming back from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq who have terrible injuries.

"They do a fantastic job and this is just my way of paying them back for this and everything they did for me when I needed them."

Mr Pepper said he had not been aware the Royal British Legion had provided the service until his friend told him about his situation.

He said: "I knew they helped servicemen, but I did not know they did this sort of thing. I think it's fantastic and I'm pleased I can do something to help them."

Craig Treeby, county field officer for the Royal British Legion in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, said: "We were only too happy to help Mr Hewlett in his time of need and we are thoroughly delighted with everything he is doing to help us."

  • Anyone wanting to donate to Mr Hewlett's appeal is able to visit his website www.bmycharity.com/mhewlett