Prince Harry calls for increased support for the wounded

Prince Harry has called for more support for wounded soldiers.

The 29-year-old royal will embark on a trek to the South Pole with a team of wounded servicemen and women to raise money for the Walking With the Wounded charity next week, and today reinforced his reasoning for taking part.

Speaking in Trafalgar Square, London, earlier today (14.11.13) he said: ”The cause is for one cause and one cause only, and that is to raise awareness for all the wounded, sick and injured whether it’s in military life or whether it’s in civilian life.”

Although the conflict in Afghanistan is less fierce than previous years, the Prince said it is vital people are aware there are still many injured troops who need to be taken care of.

He said: ”This trip is another way of reminding everybody that as Afghanistan draws down and these guys aren’t in the news anymore … it’s a reminder to everybody that support must continue.”

The group will travel to Cape Town in South Africa on Sunday before flying to Antarctica where they will acclimatize to the extreme cold before beginning their 208 mile journey.

At the Walking with the Wounded departure event in London, Harry said: ”This expedition will prove that even when you’ve lost a leg or lost an arm, or whatever the illness may be, that you can achieve pretty much anything if you put your mind to it”.

As part of his vigorous training for the trek, Prince Harry, who has served as an helicopter pilot in Afghanistan, spent a night in a sub-zero Army test facility along his team mates – Major Kate Philp, Sgt Duncan Slater, Capt Guy Disney and Capt Ibrar Ali – who have all lost limbs in Afghanistan.