Andy McNab News

Le Grove – Arsenal Blog
8 July 2011

We have been asked by ForceSelect (the UK’s leading military service leaver recruitment agency) to run a competition for serving military personnel to have lunch at an Arsenal box and enjoy the PSG vs Boca Juniors and the Arsenal vs New York Red Bulls matches at the Emirates Cup. This will include lunch and refreshments.

Remember whatever you think about the conflicts these guys are laying their lives on the line for all of us and deserve to see a great festival of football, let’s just hope we have some decent players on show eh!

Go here for the full article and more information

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Hannah Stodell, The Grocer
09 July 2011

Bravo Two Zero author and former SAS man Andy McNab has unveiled the Bravo2Burger the first product in a new lads’ snack range.

Developed by McNab and Red Lion Foods, the pack of two chilled burgers in buns (rsp: £2.99) will roll out to supermarkets from September. Red Lion, which donates all its post-tax profits to armed forces charities, said the Bravo2 range would be a fresh face in “man snacks”, and plans to add a cheeseburger and hotdog to the line-up.

McNab rose to prominence after publishing an autobiographical account of SAS patrol Bravo Two Zero and has since gone on to write more than a dozen fictional thrillers. He will help to market the burgers, which will feature ‘McNab Missions’ on-pack competitions giving shoppers the chance to win Bravo2 games and merchandise.

Red Lion Foods launched 70 household staples last October and has since raised £450,000 for armed forces causes and charities including SSAFA, Royal British Legion, Help for Heroes and Scotty’s Little Soldiers.

It expects its donations to hit £1m by the end of the year and is planning to launch new products including pizzas, chicken, beef and bananas over the coming months.

The latest launch follows the appointment of McNab and Lieutenant General Paul Newton CBE as non-executive directors to advise on its work and act as brand ambassadors.

“Bravo2 will be a really fun product to add to our growing offer and is a great way for Andy McNab to get involved with the brand,” said Red Lion marketing ­director David Wilkinson.

Source: The Grocer

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Bravo one zero zero zero: Now McNab funds two volunteers

London Evening Standard
By Anna Davis, Education Correspondent
20 Jun 2011

Former SAS soldier turned novelist Andy McNab is to pay for two frontline volunteers to help children to read.

The Bravo Two Zero writer has thrown his weight behind the Evening Standard’s literacy campaign and donated £1,000 to the cause.

It comes after he also donated a book for adults who have problems reading, to encourage them to start becoming more literate.

More than 10,000 Evening Standard readers downloaded his ebook the Grey Man and Ruth Rendell’s The Thief – “Quick Reads” that can be read by adults with a reading age of nine or above.

Mr McNab said: “It wasn’t until I joined the Army as a boy soldier, when I had a reading age of 11, that I really had the chance to get an education. I’d like to think that other children today shouldn’t have to wait as long. If we can get them reading as early as possible, that’s got to be a great thing.”

Mr McNab advised other adults in a similar position to ignore anyone who laughs at them, and seek help learning to read. He said: “When I was in the Army I was told that the only reason I couldn’t read was because I didn’t read.

“You just have to get on with it. If there is a book that is accessible, short and sharp that is great. Just because you don’t read doesn’t mean you are thick.”

“I would say, ignore what anybody else thinks, just get on with it. At the end of the day it will be you who will be able to read with your children.”

Source:  London Evening Standard

Thanks Angel!

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Childline Rocks presents England Rocks – Hands Across The Water

May 14, 2011

Entitled England Rocks- Hands Across the Water, this summer’s ChildLine Rocks event will raise money for ChildLine by hosting a six day charity motorbike ride beginning in Cranbrook, BC in Canada and finishing in Ketchum, Idaho in the USA. Profits from the minimum pledged by each UK, US & Canadian rider (up to 50) embarking on this adventure are guaranteed to go straight to the charity.

In return for this generous contribution, enthusiasts will have the opportunity to ride iconic Harley Davidson motorbikes across some of the most breathtaking scenery, in the company of some extraordinary people. For instance, they will have Andy McNab DCM MM (a ChildLine Rocks ambassador, Patron of The Force Select Foundation & Help the Heroes, former SAS servicemen and bestselling author), the founder of March for Honour, Royal Marine Ram Patten, and rock band Thunder for company; joined by colleagues, they will be riding to raise money for the ForceSelect Foundation. This truly will be the trip of a lifetime….

The trip will be made all the more memorable by a fundraising sing-a-long each night. Locals will be cordially invited to join in the fun and raise some extra cash!

The full trip itinerary and fundraising targets are available on www.childlinerocks.co.uk. Each rider will be expected to cover their flight, hotel, motorcycle and other costs + raise a minimum of £1000 for ChildLine. England Rocks-Hands across the Water! hopes to raise a minimum of £50000 for ChildLine.

The whole event will culminate in a memorable rock concert on July 16 2011 at the Sun Valley Pavilion, Ketchum, Idaho. A major name headliner is to be announced but the concert will feature British acts, including The Union, winners of Classic Rock Awards’ Best New Breakthrough Band 2010 – a wonderful way to mark the end of a truly unique and worthwhile road trip.

Source: AltSounds and visit the Childline Rocks website

SAS Legend and Best Selling Author joins the cause!

We are delighted to announce that Andy McNab DCM MM has joined the cause as a Childline Rocks Ambassador. Andy commanded the famous Bravo Two Zero patrol in the Gulf war, the most decorated patrol since the Boer war whose exploits have been documented and recognised the world over. Awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal and the Military Medal, Andy was the British Army’s most decorated soldier at time of leaving the SAS in February 1993.He has written about his experiences in the SAS in three bestselling books, has written many other books and gone on to sell over 30 million books worldwide. Additionally, he is a director of a Hereford based security company and has been involved in training videos for the Ministry of Defence. Andy also lectures for the FBI and gives motivational talks for large corporations on both sides of the Atlantic. He is a Patron of Help the Heroes and the Force Select Foundation, and we are honoured to have him on board!

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On Saturday the Babcock Trophy game between the Army and the Navy rugby teams will be raising money for the BFBS Big Salute.

Since it was launched in 2008, the Big Salute has raised more than £230,000 for Forces’ charities.

This year, a new cause has been added to the beneficiaries: Families Activity Breaks, which enables bereaved military children and spouses to get away from it all with people who’re in exactly the same boat.

BLESMA, which supports current or ex servicemen who’ve lost the use of limbs by encouraging amputees to help fellow amputees, continues to receive help from the BFBS campaign – as does Combat Stress, which, with each passing year receives record numbers of mental health referrals from the military community.

For almost a century, St Dunstan’s has been helping troops who’ve had their vision impaired in action. Not just initially, but with through-life support. The charity admits six hundred people every year.

The final good cause the Big Salute sends funds to is Veteran’s Aid which helps rehome those who find themselves homeless.

Author Andy McNab and Christina Schmid, the widow of bomb disposal expert SSgt Olaf Schmid have become patrons of the Big Salute, and the endeavour is heavily celebrity endorsed, with all sorts of desirable auction prizes which can be bid for online.

A new feature for people in the UK is a text-donation facility. And all across the forces world you’ll find ways to give – the biggest being the rattling of buckets at Twickenham. It’s hoped this level of exposure will bring in more cash for these forces charities than ever before.

To find out more please see: http://www.bfbs.com/bigsalute/

There’s a small word from Andy McNab on the BFBS Patrons page and see the video below of the event:

Andy McNab at 3 min:

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Genre for Japan:
A science fiction, fantasy and horror auction in aid of the Red Cross Japanese Tsunami Appeal.

In the wake of the devastating earthquake that struck Japan on March 11th, the world looked on in horror. We all saw the footage of the destruction caused by the initial earthquake and its aftershocks, and we were appalled by the sheer force of the tsunami it triggered–not to mention the threat posed by damage to Japan’s nuclear power stations, and the ongoing humanitarian crisis which has developed in the country.

We all felt so small and so far away – but were united in our desire to help.

Genre for Japan was set up by members of the speculative fiction community with one goal: to do what we can, however small.

From 28th March 2011, we will be auctioning special, rare and unique items donated by people who love genre just as much as you do: trust us – you don’t just want these things. You need them. You do. What are they? You’ll just have to wait and see…

All proceeds from the auctions will go to the Japan Tsunami Appeal run by the British Red Cross.

Item 18: signed Transworld collection

The highest bidder will receive a fantastic bundle of Transworld books, all signed by the authors.

We know they’re non-genre, but everyone needs a break sometimes – and we can’t think of any better way of spending one. Whether it’s for you, or the person in your life who just doesn’t *get* genre… bid away!

Minimum Bid: £40.00

All signed by the authors:

RECOIL by Andy McNab

CROSSFIRE by Andy McNab

SACRIFICE by S.J. Bolton

WEDDING BABYLON by Imogen Edwards-Jones

AN UTTERLY IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF BRITAIN by John O’Farrell

- donated by Transworld

thanks Angel for sending this!

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