FORMER PM Tony Blair will donate ALL of the profits from his forthcoming memoirs to build a centre for wounded troops, it was announced today.
Mr Blair will hand over the proceeds from his book 'A Journey' to the Royal British Legion to fund the building of a gym and training centre to help get injured soldiers back to full fitness.
The Battle Back Challenge Centre — to open in summer 2012 — will get millions in donations from sales of the book, to be published in September.
Even the £4million advance for the autobiography, which is expected to top bestseller lists across the globe, will be given to help build and run the centre.
A spokesman for Tony Blair - who despatched troops to Iraq and Afghanistan - said: "Tony Blair decided on leaving office that he would donate the proceeds of his memoirs to a charity for the Armed Forces as a way of marking the enormous sacrifice they make for the security of our people and the world.
"There could be no better cause than that of the Royal British Legion."
The centre will provide accommodation and state-of-the-art rehabilitation and fitness gear for Our Boys and Girls who have suffered horrific injuries in combat.
Battle Back
Organisers hope it will be a place where hero troops will be able to gain physical and mental strength through sports and outdoor activities.
The forces already run a Battle Back scheme to get wounded troops into sport — this centre will provide a home for that scheme.
The Legion has already committed £25m over ten years to support the MoD's Personnel Recovery Centre (PRC) programme — four residential recovery centres — which was announced earlier this year.
And they revealed today that £12m of that cash-pot is earmarked for the Battle Back centre.
The charity cash will cover the running costs of the four centres and the fifth Battle Back Challenge Centre.
Legion organisers expect that most injured personnel who are able to return to active duty will go through the Battle Back Centre as part of their recovery.
Tony Blair's spokesman added: "In making this decision, Tony Blair recognises the courage and sacrifice the armed forces demonstrate day in, day out.
"As Prime Minister he witnessed that for himself in Iraq, Afghanistan, Northern Ireland, Sierra Leone and Kosovo. This is his way of honouring their courage and sacrifice.
"We have been consulting with a number of people and organisations to decide the best support he can give. There is one project consistently highlighted: The Royal British Legion's Battle Back Challenge Centre.
"As Tony Blair said to the House of Commons on his last day in office: 'I believe that they (the Armed Forces) are fighting for the security of this country and the wider world against people who would destroy our way of life.
"'But whatever view people take of my decisions, I think that there is only one view to take of them: they are the bravest and the best.'"
Chris Simpkins, Director General of the Royal British Legion, said: "The Legion is delighted to accept this very generous donation which gives an excellent start to our fundraising target of £12m for the Battle Back Challenge Centre and a total of £25m as our contribution to the provision of the world class service for injured personnel for the next ten years.
"The culture of the Centre will very much be about what users of the service can do rather than what they can't but some of the servicemen and women are likely to need the Legion's support for the rest of their lives.
"Mr Blair's generosity is much appreciated and will help us to make a real and lasting difference to the lives of hundreds of injured personnel."
