"Being able to go on holiday as a family and having that time together to remember dad was invaluable."
Scotty member, Kira Pritchard, explains why Scotty's has been an invaluable support since losing her dad in 2003.
Former Scotty member, Kira Pritchard, lost her dad, Corporal Dewi Pritchard, after he was killed in Iraq in 2003. She was just six years old, and for her and her younger brother, Ethan, their world was turned upside down.
In 2013, at the age of 16, Kira joined Scotty’s Little Soldiers and was amazed at how the support provided by the charity impacted her and her family straight away.
“I can’t thank Nikki and Scotty’s enough for all the help they have provided me and my brother over the years” Kira said, “they are just amazing! For us, being able to go on holiday as a family and having that time together to remember dad was invaluable.
“It was really hard for my mum, with dad not being there. Over the years, they’ve sent us birthday and Christmas gifts, vouchers on Remembrance Day and on the anniversary of dad’s death, so that we can spend time remembering him together as a family.”
Kira’s first Scotty’s event was the Christmas Party in 2013. She said, “I’ll never forget the first Christmas Party I went to, it was at Alton Towers and I just thought ‘this is incredible!’”
Kira also had the unique opportunity to attend the Hampton Court Flower Show in 2015 with Scotty’s and visited Buckingham Palace in 2017 for the Party at the Palace event hosted by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry.
She said: “I wouldn’t have had the opportunities I’ve had over the last few years without Scotty’s, they’ve helped me, and Ethan create memories we will never forget.”
Now 20 years-old and having just graduated from the University of Portsmouth with a degree in Criminology, Kira is looking to her future and is keen to keep Scotty’s firmly in her plans. She said: “I’ll never forgot how Scotty’s has supported me over the years and now I want to help where I can.
Last year I volunteered at the Christmas Party which is incredibly rewarding, just seeing the smiles on the faces of the children was amazing and I hope I’ll be able to volunteer more of my time in the future.”
If you know a child or young person who has lost a parent serving in the British Armed Forces find out how Scotty’s may be able to help them by clicking here.
If you would like to support the children of our fallen heroes you can donate to Scotty’s Little Soldiers by clicking here.