AN ARMY veteran has published a book of poetry written by veterans, soldiers and their families to raise money for charity.

The book written by Gina Allsop, from Brighton, contains poetry from 30 poets with military connections, including contributions from ITV presenter Lorraine Kelly and radio DJ Joe Carden.

The money raised from the book, titled Military Memories, will be donated several military charities, including the SSAFA armed forces charity, who supported Gina through a “hard time”.

The 45-year-old, a British Army Royal Signals veteran, said: “The poems illustrate the journey taken by those who join the Armed Forces, showing a lighter side to our families’ lives and the trauma we sometimes face.

“A path taken by many, told by so few. It’s a lifetime of memories shared in one little book.”

Last year, Gina had been cycling through Liverpool when she was knocked over in a hit-and-run incident which left her in A&E.

The Argus: Gina Allsop, from Brighton, completed a fundraising cycling challenge where she raised more than £10,000Gina Allsop, from Brighton, completed a fundraising cycling challenge where she raised more than £10,000

Her cycling had been a “coping mechanism” whilst caring for her terminally ill brother Spencer, who died of cancer the day after her crash.

“You feel kind of helpless when you lose a family member, and my escape was cycling on a bike,” she said.

“When I didn’t have it for those few weeks, I felt like my legs had been chopped off, I didn’t have an outlet.”

The SSAFA supported her after the accident and sourced funding to provide her with a new bike after her old one was destroyed in the crash.

The Argus: Gina Allsop, from Brighton, completed a fundraising cycling challenge where she raised more than £10,000Gina Allsop, from Brighton, completed a fundraising cycling challenge where she raised more than £10,000

Since then, Gina has completed a fundraising cycling challenge where she raised more than £10,000 to set up an art therapy class for a cancer charity and is now launching her poetry book to help members of the Armed Forces community.

The poetry book was inspired by her brother’s funeral last year that was livestreamed online after Covid restrictions meant only ten people could attend.

“My poem was heard by a cancer hospice, and they asked me to record my poem for other virtual funerals so it could be played for them,” she said.

“That inspired me to create this poetry book and allow more people to read the work of others.”