TESCO MUM OF THE YEAR 2015

I grew up as an airforce brat – my Dad was a pilot in the New Zealand Air Force, and we lived on military bases until I was seven or eight. I remember him going away for training for weeks at a time and not really thinking much of it – that was just normal for us.

Now I look back and realise how incredibly lucky we were that the world was a relatively stable place back then (the 70’s and early 80’s) and that Dad wasn’t called up for combat. More than 100,000 UK children aren’t so lucky. They’re currently living with the reality of Mum or Dad serving in a war zone, and all the scary thoughts and feelings that go along with that.

Louise Fetigan saw that first-hand with her 11-year-old daughter Madison, who struggled emotionally every time dad Tony was deployed on another tour. When Louise sought help, she found there wasn’t any available, so she set up MY DADDY IS A SOLDIER ADVENTURES. The charity helps their ‘Little Troopers’ deal with the stress of having a serving parent by providing vital emotional support, as well as a range of events, workshops, and fundraising challenges.

The charity has proved such a valuable resource that Louise has just been named ‘Supportive Mum’ in the TESCO MUM OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2015. Not only will she attending a super-swish ceremony at the famous Savoy hotel in March, but, to commemorate the 10th year of the annual awards, Tesco will also be donating £5000 to My Daddy is a Soldier Adventures.

Louise is one of eight amazing, deserving 2015 winners, to hear more about the others follow @Tesco and look for their #MumoftheYear Tweets.