£500 raised by Victory Belles Women’s Institute
How one WI is transforming homemade crafts into cutting-edge research...

The Victory Belles Women’s Institute have raised a fantastic £500 for The Scar Free Foundation! After an inspiring visit from Karl Hinett – a veteran, endurance athlete, and Scar Free Foundation Ambassador – we were lucky enough to be named the Victory Belles charity of the year. A huge thank you to everyone who made this possible!
Victory Belles are a West Bromwich WI made up of 1940s re-enactors. It was founded by Claire Woodland, who took inspiration from the 2015 ITV series ‘Home Fires’. Each year, the Victory Belles choose a charity which “fits with the ethos of our group”, Claire said.
“We were so inspired by Karl, and the challenges he sets himself” that the group decided to auction hand crafted items and hold several raffles to fundraise for The Scar Free Foundation. Karl praised the “incredible fundraising” organised by the “wonderful members of the Victory Belles”.

Karl received 37% burns whilst serving in Basra, Iraq. After escaping from an armoured vehicle which had been doused in burning petrol, Karl was helicoptered to a field hospital, sedated, and woke from a coma 10 days later in Selly Oak Hospital Intensive Care Unit.
Karl endured around 25 operations in five years, ending up under the care of Professor Naiem Moiemen, director of The Scar Free Foundation Centre For Conflict Wound Research, based at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham.
Since Basra, Karl has dedicated himself to endurance sports and fundraising, leading to a Pride of Britain nomination, Silver at the 2018 Invictus Games, and participation in ultra-marathons. This March, Karl will embark on a 500km trek through the arctic as part of Project Fire and Ice to raise money for SSAFA, the armed forces charity, alongside veterans including Jason Fox from SAS: Who Dares Wins.

But the good news doesn’t end there: Claire has said Victory Belles plan to raise money for The Scar Free Foundation again in 2025 “through a series of personal and group challenges, once again inspired by Karl” – and we can’t wait to hear more about their plans!
Every donation we receive makes a big difference to scar free research. Whether it’s £5 for test tubes and DNA kits, or £100 to fund a fellowship for a talented surgeon, we are grateful for every penny raised. For every £1 donated to us, 85p goes directly to research by world-class scientists and clinicians, and 15p is invested in raising vital funds and awareness.
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