A PROPOSED £2.5m rural retreat for injured servicemen and women has been renamed to avoid confusion with charity Help for Heroes.

Former soldier Joe O’Connor, of Chester Road, Tarporley, who is behind the ambitious plans, has changed Sanctuary for Heroes to Sanctuary for Veterans.

Following discussions with Help for Heroes, it was decided that a name change would prevent any confusion between the two causes.

Joe, who broke his neck in 1999 after falling 400ft down a Welsh mountainside during a training exercise but had no support network to rely on, believes the new name will benefit his plans.

He said: “As one door closes another one opens in my opinion.

“Veterans isn’t about older people. I want to educate people. Veterans can be any age. I’ve taken a positive from this.

“We want to help injured veterans. Anyone who has served in the military and left is a veteran.

“There are so many leaving injured who are in their 20s and even younger.

“A lot of guys don’t necessarily see themselves as heroes, they says ‘we’re just doing our job’. I want to continue to appeal to the veterans.”

Sanctuary for Veterans, which is expected to receive charitable status itself this week, will provide respite and support for soldiers and their families at a centre on land near Oulton Park.

The site will comprise 30 luxury holiday cabins and a larger community cabin called the centre of excellence offering mentoring and counselling services, as well as training in business and personal skills.

Joe, who owns two growing financial consultant companies, has put his own money in to setting up Sanctuary for Veterans.

According to Joe, funding for the venture will also come from corporate and Government sponsorship, although the main source will be from the generosity of the public.

For more information visit www.sanctuaryforveterans.co.uk.