After almost 15 years of service I was medically discharged on the 31st March 2016.
I didn’t realise how quickly a person could literally lose everything imaginable.
My kids, my marriage, my business, bankruptcy, homelessness and my mind. I was in the worst place possible. Surviving day by day and sometimes trying not to survive.
I saw a post mid September on Facebook for VetRun180 and thought ‘why not?’
Two weeks later I turned up the day before my 37th birthday and was welcomed in to a very familiar group of people…not by looks or names but by the comradeship and comfort around the guys The safety net.
I didn’t even know what I was going to be doing on this trip to be honest, I just needed to be with these unknown friends, desperate for help.
The trips I have been on have seriously saved me. The network, the the shoulder, the ear to bend.
I don’t want to go in to what happens on the trips, join up and find out yourself. I will say though, take that leap. The hardest part of doing a marathon is the paperwork, once you’re there you’re there.
It’s the best thing you’ll do and it will start to free your mind. I’ve been lucky enough to be asked to be a team leader so I can give back and help people on their journey to recovery from my experiences with VetRun180. Team leading on the Galicia expedition was a great milestone for me and I thrived again leading men. I now help with planning and administration for future expeditions.