Ben is marching to “raise funds for Scotty’s!”
15-year-old Ben O’Donnell is one of 10 Scotty’s Little Soldiers’ Council Members who are taking on Scotty’s March in memory of their military parent while raising funds for Scotty’s Little Soldiers. He will be marching to honour his father, Warrant Officer Class 2 Gary O'Donnell, who served in the Army and completed tours in Afghanistan, Iraq, Sierra Lione and Northern Ireland. He died in 2008 in Helmand Province while trying to disarm an IED when Ben was just nine weeks old.
75 Scotty’s supporters are set to take part in the fundraising event in Henley-on-Thames on September 23rd. Here, Ben shares why it is so important for him to march for Scotty’s Little Soldiers, the charity for bereaved military children and young people, and how the organisation has supported him over the last 10 years.
Ben O'Donnel holding a photo of his dad, WO2 Gary O'Donnell
Remembering my military parent
Ben never knew his father, he died when he was just nine weeks old while away on tour with the 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps. Ben said: “Gary John O'Donnell saved thousands of lives in Afghanistan, Iraq and Sierra Lione and Northern Ireland.”
Ben has previously said: “I was too young at the time to have any memories of him, but with the help of my mum and older brother, I’ve learnt a lot about the kind of person he was and what he was interested in. I do find it hard living without a dad, but it helps when my family talk about him.”
How Scotty’s Little Soldiers has helped me
“Scotty’s has given me lifelong friends who understand me.”
What I find difficult following the death of my parent
"Scotty Members can find it challenging to talk about their parent.”
Baby Ben with his dad and brother
Why I’m part of The Scotty’s Council
“It means I can help people that are going through the same things that I did.”
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Scotty’s Council is a small group of Scotty’s beneficiaries who provide a voice for bereaved military children and young adults. The council is made up of 12 Scotty Members (aged 11 – 17) who form the Members Council, and 12 Springboarders (aged 18 – 25) who form the Springboard Council - together they form Scotty’s Council.
The council members meet up throughout the year to provide input into the charity, providing ideas and suggestions on the support they feel bereaved military young people will benefit from the most. Our members are the reason we do what we do, so their opinions are vitally important to how we guide the direction of the charity going forward.
Why I'm taking on Scotty’s March
“I want to raise funds for Scotty’s!”
Scotty’s March is Scotty’s Little Soldiers only in-person fundraising event of 2023. Participants can take on 10km, 25km or 50km and run, walk or jog the distance to raise funds to support bereaved military children and young people. Charity founder Nikki Scott will be taking part with Scotty’s Council Members, some Scotty Members and families of Scotty Members, and Scotty’s supporters.
Why it’s so important to raise funds for Scotty’s Little Soldiers
“It’s important to raise funds because Scotty’s help loads of children!”
Ben with Scotty Member Brooke
My favourite memories as Member of Scotty’s Little Soldiers
“My favourite memory of Scotty’s was the Christmas Party at London Zoo.”
About Scotty's Little Soldiers
Scotty’s Little Soldiers is a charity dedicated to supporting military children and young people (0 to 25 years) who have experienced the death of a parent who served in the British Armed Forces.
Inspired by the experience of Army widow Nikki Scott, following the death of her husband Corporal Lee Scott in Afghanistan in 2009, the charity, which was set up in 2010, provides support and guidance to hundreds of bereaved military children and young people throughout their childhood.
Scotty’s currently supports over 600 members and services offered include access to child bereavement support, guidance to parents and carers, personal education and learning assistance (including grants), and fun activities such as holiday respite breaks and group events. These are all designed to remind the children and young people supported by Scotty’s that they are not alone.
