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A heartwarming video which shows a five-year-old girl meets a heavily scarred Iraqi war veteran has gained more than 700,000 viewers overnight.
In the emotional meeting, Tempy Pattinson, who took part in a triathlon to raise money for Help for Heroes, hears Simon Brown’s story about the day he was shot in the face by a sniper, leaving him virtually blinded with life-changing facial injuries.
During the film, Brown, who is from Leeds, thanks the little girl for raising thousands of pounds to help the UK’s injured soldiers: “I got shot in the face but I was lucky. It’s because of the challenges you do, and the money you raise and the support you give, that people like me can get better. So that’s why people like you are our heroes.”
Tempy, who is not phased by Pattinson’s injuries, simply replies: “And people like you are mine.”
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The film forms part of a new series from Help for Heroes as part of its new Facing it Together campaign, which will highlight how ordinary people like Tempy can make a huge difference to the lives of veterans and their families.
Simon is one of at least 66,000 ex-military personnel with life-changing injuries and illnesses in the UK who are in need of support.
Since his injury he has endured 25 operations and hours of surgery to rebuild his face.