An Olympic gold medal winner and Royal Artillery officer from the South West has become an ambassador for an armed forces charity.
Heather Stanning, who was born in Yeovil and is a Captain in the 32nd Regiment Royal Artillery based in Larkhill, Wiltshire, will become patron of Tickets for Troops (TFT).
She was released from her army duties to pursue an Olympic career with Team GB to compete at the 2012 summer Olympics.
Paired with Cornwall's Helen Glover, she won the first gold medal for Great Britain in the 2012 Games and the first ever British Olympic gold medal in women's rowing.
Captain Stanning has now returned to the Army and is currently undertaking a period of intensive military training which will prepare her to deploy to Afghanistan in 2013.
She said: "I think Tickets For Troops is a great scheme and know many people who have benefited from it. Such an easy way to boost morale and provide a small token of appreciation to the forces family." Ross Barden, TFT director of operations, said: "Heather's success at the London 2012 Olympics was inspiring. It is an honour to have her on board!"
