Lupton House opened their doors to an inspirational visitor this month when a courageous soldier blinded in Afghanistan offered his support to the Brixham based community project.
Private Paul Jacobs, or Big Ginge as he known to his friends, made a whistlestop visit from Headley Court rehabilitation centre where he is being treated the injuries that ended his 5 month patrol in Helmund Province. On 25th August, Paul volunteered to join a patrol as his instinct told him there would be problems he wanted to be there to support his regiment the 2 Rifles. His instincts were correct as he was nearly killed in a blast, which left shrapnel buried in his skull and tore flesh from his left arm and leg and left him blind. Despite enduring months of treatment and operations, Paul is incredibly motivated and positive, telling us "I'm still a young man and youve got to get out there and show what youre worth. Just because I'm blind, doesn't mean I have to give up hope". Pauls regiment the 2 Rifles has taken the most casualties so far in Afghanistan and he is determined not to let the situation he is left with to break his nerve. Now unable to fight as a soldier he is determined to fight the right for his chosen causes, one of them being the Lupton Trust.
If you would like to show your support for Paul in his quest to help this project, please call in and see us at Lupton House, phone us on 01803 845800, or DONATE online.
Janet from the Trust said "Meeting Paul has been an incredibly humbling experience. His courage and determination is truly inspirational. I thought we had a big job ahead of us with this project but after talking to Paul about the challenges he has ahead of him it really does put things into perspective. He told me that he wants to support us as he feels an affinity with the projects aims of making a difference to peoples lives, which is why he joined the army in the first place".
Paul is now training hard for the 26 mile London Marathon in April but he sees this as just the start of his fundraising activities, with a cross channel swim and Mount Killimanjaro also on his wish list.
