A veteran from Stockport is calling on residents to show support for the armed forces community this Christmas.

Laurence Moore, from Marple, is asking people to share a message of hope with the veterans in their community this festive season - either in person or virtually.

He explained that Christmas can be a lonely time for veterans, especially if they are living with physical injuries, disabilities or mental illness.

You may be able to pass on your support in person - but if not, you can submit a message virtually via the Help for Heroes message wall.

Last December, thousands of messages of support for veterans were posted online, and the charity is hoping that the people of Greater Manchester will respond again.

"Veterans can sometimes feel they are forgotten by society", said Laurence, who served for 12 years in the Mercian Regiment.

Laurence has called on Greater Manchester residents to share support for veterans this Christmas (Image supplied)

He was diagnosed with PTSD in 2015, cutting his career short.

"When I was first diagnosed with PTSD, I isolated myself from everyone for a long period of time whilst I attempted to deal with the fallout", he explained.

"This was a very lonely period for me, especially over the festive season. I would decorate my tree and buy presents, knowing that no one else would see them, no one would buy me a present and my mantelpiece would be empty. 

"However, one of the most heart lifting things that happened was when amongst the mail was a Christmas card from Help for Heroes.

"It sat alone but proud on my shelf, but on a deeper level reminded me that I was part of another family, which would always have my back and be there for me." 

Speaking of the Help for Heroes message wall, he said: "The messages left by members of the public last year were so heart-warming.

"It would be great if we could get as many messages of hope as possible from people across Greater Manchester, which will show all our veterans that their service hasn't been forgotten. Leaving a message is easy to do, and there's no cost involved."

If you would like to add your own message of support, visit the Help for Heroes Message Wall here.

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