Members from the British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS) presented a cheque to Family Community Support Services (FCSS) staff on Friday (August 10).

Major Russ Bailey along with Silent Major Craig Gibson raised $1120 towards Cochrane's Instrumental Needs Program offered through FCSS. 

Annemarie Tocher, Resource Centre Coordinator, says the program has been running for a long time and meets the needs of residents that have exhausted all other options and, in many cases, end up falling through the cracks. "The emergency funds program primarily helps to keep families housed. We provide anything from help with rent, utilities, emergency food and emergency medical expenses; it depends on who is coming through the door and what those needs are."

Roughly 40 to 50 families access the program on an annual basis and FCSS is generally able to stretch the money quite far depending on the need. Tocher shares she is thrilled we offer a program like this in Cochrane and that the community supports it. "We are so fortunate as a community, we are very unique; this is not the type of program that's available in every community. This program is entirely reliant on community donations so efforts like this go a long way. We wouldn't be able to do it without donations like this." 

Major Russ Bailey shares while only three British military families are permanently stationed in Cochrane, roughly 2000 soldiers come on tour to Trails End Camp located in the Foothills for adventure training. The British Army has been stationed in Cochrane for 25 years and was picked due to its geographical terrain. "It is adventurous training and it is quite intense. In summer, we do horse trekking, alpine mountaineering, rock climbing, water sports such as canoeing and kayaking; in winter it's skiing, ice climbing and so on."

While they could have sent money overseas to support a charity, it is important to BATUS to give back to the community they consider home when stationed here. "It advertises the British Military and what we do and how we do it, in a supporting role. I have travelled across the world and I think it's important to give back to the local area that looks after you whilst you're living here."

The money was raised through an annual barbecue the Trails End Camp hosts. "Last year and this year it has really grown; the locals stayed longer and although the heat was intense, people just carried on and it was a really successful day."

Besides individual families supporting the Instrumental Needs Program, it is well supported by Cochrane Home Treasures and the Cochrane Activettes.