ianstone
08-09-2010, 03:57 PM
Military kit website is suspended
Page last updated at 10:49 GMT, Monday, 9 August 2010 11:49 UK
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By Brandice Alexander
Newsbeat reporter http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/48661000/jpg/_48661124_pa_troops.jpg A website launched last Thursday (5 August) allowing people to donate supplies to British troops serving in Afghanistan has been temporarily shut down.
Supporters had been sending in items like biscuits, books and glasses for the soldiers.
However, the website today (9 August) tells users they can't donate supplies.
The message says: "Due to concerns expressed by the Ministry of Defence we are having to suspend the website".
The MoD has told Newsbeat it's worried about the safety of the soldiers.
Continue reading the main story (http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/10914488#skip_feature_02)
We're still not sure how to take the MoD's concerns. But our main interest is the troops' welfare
Steve McGregor Kits 4 Troops co-founder
Steve McGregor and Inaam Tahir set up the site together.
The idea came from McGregor, who was a captain in the US 101st Airborne and deployed in Iraq.
He says his time out there made him realise that there was a need for a wedding list-style website which gets soldiers to tell people what items and kit they need.
"When I was in Iraq, family, friends and complete strangers sent us all kinds of stuff," he said.
"Great as it was to get gifts, it was even better if you received gifts that meant a lot to you, like your favourite candy bar, or even a bit of kit that you really needed."
In the 28 hours after the launch of Kit 4 Troops, supporters donated more than £500 to buy supplies for the 38 individual troops who registered.
McGregor and Tahir say supporters have donated "books, lots of biscuits. Things like that, we really appreciate it but we also need gloves sunglasses and eye wear".
Steve McGregor told Newsbeat: "We're still not sure how to take the MoD's concerns. But our main interest is the troops' welfare."
Page last updated at 10:49 GMT, Monday, 9 August 2010 11:49 UK
E-mail this to a friend (http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/mpapps/pagetools/email/www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/10914488)
Printable version (http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/10914488#)
By Brandice Alexander
Newsbeat reporter http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/48661000/jpg/_48661124_pa_troops.jpg A website launched last Thursday (5 August) allowing people to donate supplies to British troops serving in Afghanistan has been temporarily shut down.
Supporters had been sending in items like biscuits, books and glasses for the soldiers.
However, the website today (9 August) tells users they can't donate supplies.
The message says: "Due to concerns expressed by the Ministry of Defence we are having to suspend the website".
The MoD has told Newsbeat it's worried about the safety of the soldiers.
Continue reading the main story (http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/10914488#skip_feature_02)
We're still not sure how to take the MoD's concerns. But our main interest is the troops' welfare
Steve McGregor Kits 4 Troops co-founder
Steve McGregor and Inaam Tahir set up the site together.
The idea came from McGregor, who was a captain in the US 101st Airborne and deployed in Iraq.
He says his time out there made him realise that there was a need for a wedding list-style website which gets soldiers to tell people what items and kit they need.
"When I was in Iraq, family, friends and complete strangers sent us all kinds of stuff," he said.
"Great as it was to get gifts, it was even better if you received gifts that meant a lot to you, like your favourite candy bar, or even a bit of kit that you really needed."
In the 28 hours after the launch of Kit 4 Troops, supporters donated more than £500 to buy supplies for the 38 individual troops who registered.
McGregor and Tahir say supporters have donated "books, lots of biscuits. Things like that, we really appreciate it but we also need gloves sunglasses and eye wear".
Steve McGregor told Newsbeat: "We're still not sure how to take the MoD's concerns. But our main interest is the troops' welfare."