A Pound For Joe
What an achievement: the campaign to raise funds to help Joe Townsend, the Royal Marine brought up in Eastbourne, who lost his legs in Afghanistan, has to date, raised over £18, 000.
The Chamber would like to thank everyone who has made any donation, be it large or small, and for the tremendous support it has received from the business community as a whole.
This campaign started as a small idea, suggested by a Chamber Member at a Chamber event: it has grown and raised awareness of the bravery of the Armed Forces as a whole and for one individual in particular. The businesses of Eastbourne and beyond together, with the many donations received from private individuals has been overwhelming. In addition to the £18,000 received via the Chamber, other collections have been made, adding an extra £5,000.
The campaign also led to additional publicity surrounding the family's planning application to build a bungalow, with even comments being made by the Prime Minister. With these commments, together with national press coverage, a new application was submitted and passed.
Joe and his family wish to thank everyone for their support and have asked that from now on, any additonal funds should be sent to the Help The Heroes Campaign, to support others who are suffering but may not have had the level of support Joe has had from Eastbourne.
Thank you for all your support.
(updated April 2009)
A Pound For Joe: 
The Background: The Pound for Joe campaign started as a suggestion from a Member of the Chamber who asked if the Chamber could do anything to assist a local Eastbourne lad, who joined the Royal Marines and whilst serving in Afghanistan, had been blown up and lost both his legs. He is currently undergoing treatment at the DMRC Headley Court (Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre) in Surrey before he eventually returns home to Eastbourne.
The aim: The aim is to raise funds, in a short fundraising campaign, to assist his family, firstly with travel costs to see Joe at Headley Court and then to assist with some of the costs which will inevitably be incurred by Joe and his family.
The reason: We are always hearing of the young today, the lack of respect, the anti-social behaviour. Here we have just an ordinary lad, a local lad, who went to local schools, made average achievements academically but did what he wanted to do and went to serve his country. We know and appreciate he knew the risks, but in reality none of us would ever truly think this could happen. As a result, he faces a future of pain and injury, he has given and so should we.
Fundraising: The collection started at the Eastbourne & District Chamber of Commerce Breakfast Networking Group in June and from the Members’ responses; we knew this would be a keenly supported appeal. The objective is now to ask each and every Member of the Eastbourne & District Chamber of Commerce to get every member of their respective staff and customers to give a pound.
Local Borough Councillors, East Sussex County Councillors and the local MP Nigel Waterson will be asked to make donations and approaches will be made to local service clubs such as the Rotary Clubs, Lions and the Business Networking Groups (BNI) asking them to consider making collections.
Publicity: The appeal has been publicised initially in the Eastbourne Herald and Gazette and subsequently extended to the Argus in Brighton and other local papers. Since then, BBC South East Today have televised interviews with Joe, which were shown on Friday 25th July. They will be following these interviews with further information as and when appropriate.
Actions so far: A bank account is being opened at the National Westminster Bank in Eastbourne, entitled “A POUND FOR JOE”. All monies raised will be banked and paid in full to Joe and his family. Lawson Lewis, solicitors in Eastbourne, will ensure the legality of the fund, whilst accountants Dominic Hill will also act as financial advisors. Local printers have been asked to assist with any printing needs - mainly to produce sticky badges so that donors can wear them on the various main collection days to show they have given: this is obviously significant when the collection is being made in the shopping centres.