Paralympic gold medallist celebrates 10 year anniversary of Fisher House UK
Double amputee, Stuart Robinson, who was injured in Afghanistan, helps UHB Charity mark an incredible 10 years since Fisher House was opened by HM The King on 21 June 2013, whilst he was still HRH The Prince of Wales.
Stuart’s family was one of the first to stay at Fisher House, a home away from home for military personnel and their families, while he was treated at the Queen Elizabeth hospital for 10 months.
This is not only a landmark occasion for the Charity but for Birmingham as a whole as the Queen Elizabeth Hospital is unique in that it is the UK’s only military hospital.
When a member of the military is injured abroad they are flown directly to Birmingham Airport and taken straight to the QE to be treated by UHB doctors who are experts in dealing with major trauma injuries. Many families have to then travel to Birmingham from all over the UK and even abroad, and are faced with paying for hotels, petrol and parking.
Fisher House offers them free accommodation on site with only a 5 minute walk from their loved ones. As it’s purely for the family of military personnel it gives them the chance to talk with others going through a similar experience.
It's also a home for military personnel and veterans who may have other illnesses and need treatment at the QE from cancer treatment to transplants. They could be in for a number of weeks, even months, so this offers their family a safe space to stay and be close by.
It costs the charity £40 a night to host a military family in their time of need. Over the last 10 years we have supported over 7,000 families and provided over 40,000 nights of accommodation for families who needed it.
Stuart told us, “Having my family so close to where I was being treated, gave me so much peace of mind; knowing they were safe and being looked after. It allowed me to focus on myself and my recovery, which I believe helped me to return home a lot sooner.”
Stuart has gone on to be a gold medallist in the Invictus Games and won gold in GB Wheelchair Rugby in the Paralympics in Tokyo in 2020.
Fisher House receives no government or military funding, it relies solely on incredible supporters to keep our doors open. If you would like to support future military families in their time of need, please click here to make a donation today.
