FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
3 November 2009

What do Generals Stanley McChrystal and Sir David Richards have in common?

If you answered “Commanding the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan” you’d be absolutely right. The post currently held by General Stanley A. McChrystal was also held by General Sir David Julian Richards from July 2006 until February 2007.

But that’s not the only thing they have in common: both fully appreciate that rebuilding Afghanistan’s infrastructure and winning the hearts and minds of the Afghan people are critical long-term goals. That is why both men are supporters of the Afghan Appeal Fund (AAF), a voluntary charity established by Caroline, Lady Richards, wife of General Sir David Richards along with a group of serving soldiers, and their families and friends, to raise awareness of the plight of the people of Afghanistan, particularly the children. Over the years, the AAF has created various fundraising programs to raise money and help build and refurbish Afghan schools, as well as train teachers to staff them.

A recent and groundbreaking fundraising exercise involved the collaboration of the AAF and Top Trumps USA Inc. to produce the US Army Top Trumps card game. Top Trumps is a variation of the classic card game ‘war’, which we all love and remember, and features stats, pictures and amazing facts that turn any topic into hours of fun. US Army Top Trumps features 30 divisions and brigades from the best-trained, most dedicated and most respected Army in the world. Which unit has the greatest firepower, which has protected the world longer than any other, and which has the highest combat versatility? From Special Forces to 101st Airborne Division, US Army Top Trumps has it all!

The AAF receives a portion of the proceeds from the sale of every deck of US Army Top Trumps. A similar deck for the British Army has sold over 100,000 units to date, and this hugely successful partnership has helped the AAF to build another school in Afghanistan this year.

US Army Top Trumps makes the ideal holiday gift for children and adults alike, and is available exclusively at AAFES stores nationwide.

About The Afghan Appeal Fund

The Afghan Appeal Fund (AAF) - a charity run on a voluntary basis by family and friends of British soldiers - aims to raise awareness of the plight of the people of Afghanistan, particularly the children, and raise money to help them. By supporting these ”hearts and minds” projects, we hope to help provide a better future, not just for Afghan children, but a safer world for all our children. To find out more please visit www.afghanappealfund.org.uk.

About Top Trumps

Top Trumps is an award-winning card game and simple variation of the classic card game ‘War’. It is a global best-selling phenomenon with 40,000,000 decks of cards sold to date. Each pack features a different “topic of the day” and is designed to educate and entertain youngsters. For more information please visit www.toptrumps.com.

  
General Sir David Richards, patron of the Afghan Appeal Fund, recently handed over a pack of the new Top Trumps to General Stanley McChrystal of the US Army