THE family of a Leyland soldier has thrown its support behind the Guardian’s ‘We Salute You’ campaign by wearing our new wristbands with pride. Joanne and Mark Crompton’s son Adam, 19, is currently serving in Afghanistan with the 2nd Batallion Duke of Lancaster regiment.

The Guardian was inundated with messages of support for the young soldier when we featured his story in August.

And now his family is reminding people of how important it is to back our troops, as we bring out wristbands and key-rings to show our support for our brave men and women battling the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Adam’s step-mum, Joanne said: “This campaign is so important because it’s easy for people to wave goodbye to the boys and get on with their
lives, putting it to the back of their minds.

“All the kids are wearing the wristbands. It’s about showing our support.

“It just means that while we go about our daily job we’re still thinking about them in Afghanistan.”

Any donations received for the wristbands will be given to the charity Help for Heroes, which supports our wounded soldiers.

Joanne added: “We can’t forget what they are doing out there and how big a sacrifice they are making. They are thousands of miles away from their families and most would much rather be at home, like anyone else.

“We are so proud of Adam. We sent one of the newspapers over to Afghanistan and the boys were chuffed when they saw it.”

Adam’s dad Mark said: “It gave them a big boost to know people are actually thinking about them.

The mother of a soldier killed in Afghanistan has designed wristbands in memory of him to raise funds to support his two young children.

Cpl Tom Gaden, 24, from the 1 Rifles was killed in February when a bomb hit his Land Rover in Helmand Province.

His fiancee Amanda Butler is caring for their children, two-year-old Lucy and Charlie who was born in April.

Cpl Gaden’s mother Judy Gaden, from Taunton, said she wanted to honour his memory and provide for his children.

The wristbands bear Cpl Gaden’s name and the phrase “If you knew what I know you’d enjoy life as much as me”.

“That was typical Tom,” Mrs Gaden said. “He had a charisma and a way with him that inspired other people.

“The wristband is part of something that we’re doing in Tom’s memory. I’d like to do other fundraising and leave them (his children) a nice sum of money when they’re older.

“It’d be nice to help them out when they need a new bike or just a new uniform for school, just little things really.

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