The charity Help for Heroes was launched in October 2007 in response to the desire of ordinary people to do something practical to help our wounded servicemen and women.

Help For Heroes was the idea of Appeal Chairman Bryn Parry and a group of friends and relations, many of who have connections with serving servicemen and women.

Bryn and his wife Emma wanted to do something to help the wounded and came up with the idea of a sponsored bike ride. They mentioned it to some friends who mentioned it to some more friends and suddenly Help For Heroes was born and growing fast.

A flurry of visits to various offices led to the campaign being blessed by the head of the army, Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Richard Dannatt.

"As individuals we are powerless to prevent war and we feel helpless that we are unable to stop our men and women from being killed and wounded. By joining together as Help for Heroes we are doing something practical," said Mr Parry.

"We are strictly non political, we recognize that wars happen under any government, and we are non critical, preferring to get on with the job rather than talking about rights and wrongs."

The charity's first task was to raise £6 million to help provide a swimming pool and gym complex at the tri service rehabilitation centre at Headley Court and with the support of Royalty, The Armed Forces, Celebrities, the Press and thousands of ordinary, decent people, that target was achieved in eight months.

"Our servicemen and women give more, risk more and sacrifice more, so we believe that they should be given more; we believe they deserve the very best. They say they are not heroes, that they are just blokes doing their job; we say that anyone who volunteers to join the Armed Forces and serve in time of war is a hero and we want to help our heroes," said Mr Parry

Help for Heroes needs to raise a great deal of money and as that money comes in, we will spend it, on improving facilities like the pool complex or the relatives' house at Selly Oak and by giving grants to the right organisations to ensure that our wounded get the very best," he said.

With help from a Crickhowell man a South Wales Choir has launched a single for the Help the Heroes charity.

Kevin King, owner of Optimum Records, has released The Liberation Hymn sung by Treorchy Male Choir and written by Vernon Hopkins, who brought Tom Jones into our lives.

After watching the X Factor charity single propel into number one in the charts last year, Mr King said there was a need for Wales to show its own support.

"There was due to be a charity rugby match at The Millennium Stadium in September but I heard that the Welsh Rugby Union has blocked the idea saying there would be problem releasing players for the game, so I thought it was time to do something from Wales," said Mr King.

The single features three tracks, all written and composed by Hopkins. The Liberation Hymn is the first track sung by the choir and the other two are performed by Hopkins himself.

"I wanted to appeal to a wider audience than that of the X Factor single and the Treorchy Male Choir seemed perfect," said Mr King.

The choir has shared the stage with some of the world's greatest entertainers including Dame Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones, Katherine Jenkins and Cliff Richard.

They have also appeared on the Royal Variety Performance and are regular entertainers on the hallowed turf of the Millennium Stadium for rugby internationals.

Dean Powell, spokesman for the Treorchy Male Choir, said: "The choir was reformed following World War II and is made up of ex-servicemen, so you can imagine we are all honoured and delighted to take part in such a prestigious recording for such a wonderful cause."

Mr King added, "The Welsh music industry in flying the flag of tributes for men and women serving our country abroad and pay the ultimate price with many returning injured."

Liberation Hymn is available from Amazon priced at £3.98 or can be downloaded from iTunes and HMV.com for 75p, it is also available from Abergavenny Music.

Colour Sergeant Simon Warlow of 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh is the recruitment officer at the new army career centre on Frogmore Street, Abergavenny and a keen supporter of the charity single.

Serving in the army for 25 years, he said, "I am delighted there is a new army careers centre in Abergavenny and hope that the young men and women in the area will take the opportunity to call in for an informal chat and find out what careers the British army has to offer."