The William Aldridge Foundation

Newport soldier to climb Kilimanjaro in mate's memory
6:30pm Thursday 21st October 2010



A NEWPORT soldier will honour the memory of a comrade who lost his life in Afghanistan by climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.

Rifleman Michael Perry, 26, was last year devastated by the death of friend Rifleman William Aldridge - who remains the youngest British soldier to die in the Afghanistan conflict, aged 18 and 47 days.

Their platoon, which is part of the Northern Ireland-based 2nd Battalion The Rifles, lost 11 soldiers during deployment to Helmand Province between March and October 2009 - and their company lost a further three men.

Last October, Rifleman Aldridge’s mother, Lucy, launched the William Aldridge Foundation in his memory, to support armed forces charities.

Rifleman Perry is supporting the foundation by flying to Africa today in a bid to raise £40,000 through a fundraising climb with Rifleman Aldridge’s girlfriend, Zeta Price, 20.

The two soldiers met in 2008 during pre-deployment training for Afghanistan...

To read the full story and view photos please follow the link below:
www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/8468273.N...ro_in_mate_s_memory/