Town rallies round for hero Tom

WARRINGTON people are rallying round to help local soldier Tom Coleridge who was seriously injured in Afghanistan.
Money is being raised, events are being planned and people are being asked to help by the Warrington Cares for Tom appeal.
One of the appeal organisers Glen Ellis said: “Tom, 18, signed up to the 1st Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment in June 2009. On July 10 this year he was part of a patrol which was attacked and he was shot through his abdomen, stomach and spine.
“Although Tom is lucky in that he survived, his life has changed forever. We are looking to show him and his family that the people of Warrington are supportive of one of their heroes and raise as much as we can so that when he is released from hospital he will receive everything he needs to live as full a life as possible.”
The appeal group has set up a website www.moon13.co.uk/warringtoncaresfortom/index.htm where people can keep track of planned events and Tom’s progress.
Glen said the group hopes local people can help the appeal by organising events or donating goods and funds. Members are also looking for sponsorship from businesses.
Tom and his sister Katie were brought up in Penketh by parents Garry and Julie. He attended Sacred Heart and Saint Gregory’s schools where he excelled in sports, including American football, basketball and football. He is a keen supporter of Washington Redskins and Liverpool Football Club.
Friends and family describe him as happy-go-lucky with a heart of gold. He is affectionately known as “Captain Colgate” because of his happy smile.
He was interested in being a soldier from the age of five when he got his first fancy dress uniform.
He joined the regiment on June 14 last year and began his military training. He was eager to undertake his posting in Afghanistan and to make a difference for the “innocents caught up in the struggle with the Taliban.”
Just a few weeks into his first tour, on July 10 he was on patrol with his unit in Helmand province when they were ambushed.
The appeal group’s website reports: “It was a heavy attack and sadly Tom took a bullet in the right hand side of his abdomen, the bullet tore through his stomach and into his spine, Tom’s legs then went from under him and he went down.
“Even though Tom knew he’d been hit he never lost courage and returned fire to keep his buddies safe, and he carried on fighting until reinforcements and medics arrived and he was medevaced out to safety.”
He was flown back for emergency surgery to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, where his family kept a bedside vigil. He has had a series of life saving surgeries to repair the damage to his vital organs. Tom has lost his right kidney, his spleen, and he has severe liver damage. Sadly his spine has been severely impaired by the bullet, and the latest CT scans show irreversible damage to the spinal cord.
He now in a serous but stable condition and is getting lots of support from hospital staff, family, friends and well-wishers. Once he starts to rebuild his life he will need special care, support and financial help.