Prince William leads tributes as Help For Heroes founder dies age 67

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Bryn Parry has died following a battle with pancreatic cancer (Image: bryn_parry_studios / Instagram)
Bryn Parry has died following a battle with pancreatic cancer (Image: bryn_parry_studios / Instagram)

Prince William has led moving tributes to a Help for Heroes charity founder who has died after a battle with cancer.

Bryn Parry CBE set up the armed forces charity with his wife Emma in 2007, with organisation going on to raise vital millions to support injured and wounded veterans and service personnel.

He was honoured with a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) at a special investiture ceremony held at his home in Wiltshire back in February.

Paying tribute to Mr Parry following his death on Wednesday at the age of 67, the Prince of Wales wrote on Twitter: "Deeply sad to hear that Bryn Parry has passed away.

"A life-affirming, inspirational man, his work with @HelpforHeroes made a difference to so many and his legacy will be its continuing impact. My thoughts are with his family and friends. W."

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Prince William leads tributes as Help For Heroes founder dies age 67Help for Heroes founder Bryn Parry CBE, 67, (right) has died from pancreatic cancer (bryn_parry_studios / Instagram)

He was understood to have been ill for several months after suffering from stage four pancreatic cancer.

A statement from Help for Heroes on Wednesday night offered commiserations to Bryn's family, and spoke of the impact of his work on veterans and their loved ones.

James Needham, CEO at Help for Heroes, said: "Everyone at Help for Heroes is deeply saddened by the death of our co-founder Bryn Parry CBE.

"Without Bryn, this Charity wouldn't be here. Without him, over 27,000 veterans and their families wouldn't have received lifechanging support.

Prince William leads tributes as Help For Heroes founder dies age 67Bryn served in the Royal Green Jackets Army regiment before beginning a career as a cartoonist (bryn_parry_studios / Instagram)

"Bryn was instrumental in changing the focus of the nation and the way we regard both military service and wounded veterans.

"Those who knew and worked with Bryn saw at his core an incredibly kind, earnest, and passionate soul, whose energy was contagious.

"Supported, encouraged and advised by Emma, he was unstinting in his total, unwavering commitment to making the lot of the wounded servicemen and women as good as it could be.

"Bryn’s founding principles and his no-nonsense approach of doing everything humanly possible to help our heroes, remain at the heart of all we do.

"We offer our deepest sympathy and love to Emma, Sophie, Tom and Louisa."

Bryn served in the Royal Green Jackets Army regiment before beginning a career as a cartoonist, running a business with his wife Emma where he sold quality designs and took commissions.

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The couple would later set up the charity in 2007 after a visit to a hospital where wounded veterans were treated upon returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Help for Heroes has since gone on to help more than 27,000 ex-service personnel and their families thanks to volunteering and fundraising efforts across the country.

Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas

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