A POPULAR club night will be dedicated to a soldier who lost both his legs on a tour of Afghanistan.
James Rose, 22, an infantry soldier with the Yorkshire Regiment’s 2nd Battalion, lost both his legs when he came into contact with a lower metal contents bomb in November of last year.
Mr Rose said: “I couldn’t pick it up on my metal detector so I just stood on it and it blew me up.
“I lost consciousness for a bit when all the dust went up in the air, but once the dust settled I remember being dragged for about 100 metres, put in the quad and driven back to the medical centre.”
Mr Rose’s girlfriend, Naiomi Wise, was studying at Liverpool John Moore’s University when she noticed a get well soon message on Mr Rose’s Facebook profile.
Miss Wise said: “I went hysterical, I didn’t realise at the time but my mum was on her way to tell me the news.
“Then James phoned me from Camp Bastion saying, ‘I’m in hospital and I’m on my way home.’ “I was beside myself.”
Miss Wise then wrote a letter to Paul Taylor, a DJ at one of James’ favourite club nights, Retro.
Mr Taylor said: “I received a touching letter from a young lady called Naiomi Wise in December last year.
“She told me about what had happened to James, who she said was a huge Retro fan.
“This deeply saddened me and my team, so we decided to dedicate the next Retro night to James and all of our brave war heroes.
“The proceeds of the event will be donated to the Help for Heroes organisation.
“I’m hoping everyone will come and support us, so we can raise not only people’s spirits but also some money to make a difference to this great cause.
“What better way to make a donation then to dance to your favourite classics, knowing you are making a contribution from the dance floor.”
Tickets cost £10 for the Retro night at The Medicine Bar, formally The Purple Onion, in Middlesbrough.
Doors open at 9pm.
Tickets are available at skiddle.
com or can be purchased at the door.
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