Football legend Terry Butcher is joining forces with veterans’ social enterprise Combat2Coffee to shine a spotlight on a long-overlooked group — the families of military personnel who are indirectly affected by mental health challenges.
On Tuesday 24th June, during Armed Forces Week, the former England and Ipswich Town captain will co-host The Bigger Breakfast at Ipswich YM Rugby Club, alongside Combat2Coffee.
The event will welcome 1,000 members of the armed forces community, including serving personnel, veterans, and—importantly—their families, for a shared breakfast that is much more than a meal. It is a powerful call for recognition, connection, and open conversation.
A committed advocate for veterans’ mental health, Terry Butcher’s involvement is deeply personal. In 2017, he lost his son, Christopher, an Army captain who served in Afghanistan and was diagnosed with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) following his service.
In 2024, Mr Butcher became Patron of Combat2Coffee, a not-for-profit organisation that uses the simple act of sharing a coffee to start meaningful conversations around mental wellbeing.
Having previously supported Combat2Coffee’s veterans’ breakfasts, Butcher is now leading this initiative, which aims to bring together the armed forces community.
Terry said: The Bigger Breakfast marks the beginning of a new movement.
“Together with Combat2Coffee, we’re shining a light on the families who stand behind our service personnel — those who carry the emotional weight yet often go unrecognised.
“This is the first event of its kind and our vision is to make it a permanent feature of Armed Forces Week — a national Community Day dedicated to honouring these silent heroes and giving them the recognition they so deeply deserve.”
Simultaneously, a breakfast will be hosted at Combat2Coffee’s café inside the Ministry of Defence Main Building in Whitehall, reinforcing the message of unity and nationwide support for the wider armed forces community.
The initiative has ambitions beyond a single event.
Terry and Combat2Coffee’s founder, Nigel Seaman, hope The Bigger Breakfast will grow into a national campaign, with sights set on breaking a world record for the largest breakfast gathering in the future.
Nigel said:
“Families didn’t sign up to serve, but they live with the impact of military life every day.
This breakfast is more than just a meal — it’s a moment to bring people together, raise awareness, and say we see you to the families often left in the shadows of military service.”
To get involved in The Bigger Breakfast — whether by attending, volunteering, or sponsoring — please email hello@combat2coffee.co.uk
