Go into bat for Help for Heroes

Meet the man who has made bats for the military charity

Promotional feature

Help for Heroes believes that anyone who has been affected by their military service deserves to live a secure and healthy life with purpose. It exists to give these men and women, and their families, one fewer battle to fight and the strength to recover and get on with their lives. 

Mike Kennedy, an injured Navy veteran and a former award-winning engineer with an uncanny eye for detail, has created a limited-edition, handmade cricket bat to raise money for Help for Heroes – a charity that was instrumental in his recovery. 

It was in 2008 while serving in Iraq that Mike was caught up in a rocket attack. He sustained massive injuries to his lower back and spent the next five years in and out of rehab. In a bid to forge a new career, Mike, an outstanding cricketer, received support from Help for Heroes to get back on his feet, regain his confidence and he began to shape his future in cricket. 

“It was a combination of events that led me to making cricket bats. While in recovery I was working in the timber industry and was managing an estate with some willow trees. I processed them realising how much of a demand there was for it and began supplying companies, but then realised there’s no reason I can’t make cricket bats too. From this, World Class Willow was set up. 

^{Kennedy is a Navy veteran who has since become a master batmaker}

“Although there have been huge challenges in the last year we were lucky in getting the bats into the right people’s hands. Now we’re in a position where we’re sponsoring international cricketers and they’re using my bats on the international stage. The feedback has been extremely humbling. It’s amazing to think that’s come around in some respect because of my injury.” 

Cricket has long been a favoured sport of Mike’s and he feared not being able to play again. 

“When I got injured, one of my first thoughts was I’m never going to play cricket again. But through Help for Heroes I also got back to playing. 

“I joined the Help for Heroes Cricket team. It has been an incredible journey and I’ve seen what cricket and the team itself can do for me and for others, and the potential it has to inspire people to take control of their lives and even give them the confidence to start a new career.” 

Mike has done exactly that and quite literally carved a career out of cricket using the skills and eye for detail that he honed in the Navy. According to many first-class cricketers, the bats are now very much considered world class. 

^{World Class Willow are official brand partners of Help for Heroes and are making special limited edition bats to support the charity}

He now wants to give back to ensure others have the opportunities he has had. 

“I want to see Help for Heroes still be around in generations to come. While being involved with Help for Heroes Cricket I have seen lives changed and even saved! 

“Cricket is very inclusive. That’s the beauty of it and, regardless of your ability or any physical and mental health issues, there is a power in cricket and so much to gain from the game on and o¬ the pitch.” 

Mike’s support has never been more important. Since the start of the pandemic Help for Heroes has experienced a surge in demand for its services. During the first lockdown there was a 33 per cent increase in those coming forward for mental health support compared to last year and a 30 per cent increase in referrals to its veterans clinical services. This need has grown alongside the pandemic. With a 30 per cent reduction in income expected in coming years, support is needed now more than ever. 

The limited-edition run of 100 Help for Heroes cricket bats from World Class Willow can be purchased at www.worldclasswillow.com. £10,000 will be donated to the charity, which will support more veterans, like Mike, on their recovery journey.

For more information visit www.worldclasswillow.com and www.helpforheroes.org.uk

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