Military Charity to Benefit from Surrey County Council’s Diversity Book Box

The Afghan Appeal Fund set up by families and friends of British soldiers to help the people of Afghanistan will benefit hugely, thanks to a book order from Surrey county council.

My Daddy Is A Soldier - a children’s book sponsored by the charity - has had tremendous success within the Army community since its launch 6 months ago. But the recent 2000 book order from the Council’s Early Years department has taken book sales to a different level.

The book by author Gerry Waters – an army daughter, wife, mother and grandmother – was originally a one-off to explain to her young granddaughter Shay why her soldier Dad was going away to Afghanistan and more importantly that he loves her and would be coming home.

“I am so pleased at the tremendous response from our military community” says Gerry “but to receive an order for 2000 books from a civilian unit is incredible. It’s funny now but when the email order originally came in, I thought it was a typing error!”

But it didn’t stop there; the order confirmation arrived on the day Gerry was putting the finishing touches to her second book in the series, My Mummy Is A Soldier.  And yes, the council wanted to stock this title in their diversity book box for Early Years nurseries and childminders as well.

“I was in total shock when the news came through” explained Gerry. “Fantastic news for the Afghan Appeal Fund and wonderful that so many children will have access to these books.”

The ‘welfare’ books are the first of their kind for the British Forces and were snapped up by Surrey County Council for their ‘Diversity Book Box’ - a Government led initiative.

President of the Afghan Appeal Fund, Caroline Richards, (wife of Chief of the General Staff designate General Sir David Richards) says, “The huge order for 4000 books is amazing. We are about to embark on two new school projects in Northern Afghanistan so the timing couldn’t be more perfect.”

Contact: info@mydaddyisasoldier.co.uk or tel 07777 606504