Testimonials

When I first told a work colleague that I was thinking about applying for the VetRun Sweden expedition, I was extremely apprehensive to go as I had just started a new job and was settling into a new routine. However, they were able to convince me to apply and I am so glad that I did.

The VetRun Sweden expedition challenged me to overcome my self doubt. It was through the immense challenges that we faced each day that allowed me to see what I am capable of achieving. At the end of each day, due to the ground we covered and the physical and mental obstacles we all faced, I felt an enormous sense of achievement. When we parked up for the last time for our final group photo, I was filled with mixed emotions as the trip had come to an end.

The Sweden trip has reinvigorated my self worth and improved my confidence through the challenges we faced as a team to reach the finish line. This trip superseded all of my expectations. I urge anyone to give these expeditions a go. It really does work.

I will forever be thankful for the hard work of the Team Leaders Ross and Joe, our guide Thomas and equally the other beneficiaries on the trip. Their endless support, banter and morale filled dits helped me get to the end of this once in a lifetime experience.

Matt - VetRun180 - Beneficiary

Vetrun put me in an environment where I was uncomfortable and felt socially isolated and way out of my comfort zone...the pain was bad the headaches hourly I was nauseous and feeling ill...horrendous leap to be involved...however with a bit of trust and my own little efforts and I mean little.

The whole expedition became one amazing opportunity and experience, with each day I had to pinch myself, not just at the driving experience, but of the way I was able to appreciate what was around me. The travel, vehicles and some of the people I was with. Many negative triggers and emotions where flipped into positive emotions. Quite overwhelming in a good way. Very rewarding personally, from the small effort I was giving... I became more confident in the group and also was able to use lost skills in and around the vehicles.

Took me a little while to calm down and reflect on the trip , still processing the magnitude of information from the experience, certainly has been the most fun , emotional and overwhelming journey experience of my life , spiritually and mentally both on a superficial and on a deeper level that as time goes by the finer details are emerging from the effort that was made by , Ross , mack , Ben , Thomas and the rest of the men and women involved.

I'm finding it hard to put it into words the gratitude I'm feeling right now but I just want you all to know how much this has meant to me and the positive effects it had already had in my outlook towards my attitude and life in general , iv had problems with a lot of things mh , alcohol , anger etc you know the score but I feel purged from it all and happy that the "180" has been for me very effective.

Thank you to the charity for changing lives not only the direct participants but the wider effected also friends family etc

I love you all and thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Drew - VetRun180 - Beneficiary

If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you!

I served in the Royal Marines from 1977-1999 since leaving all those years ago, I have slowly been struggling with my mental health.

This came to a head in 2022 when I was diagnosed with complex PTSD and anxiety.

A friend who had been on an expedition with Vetrun180 told be how it had helped him, so I applied not thinking they would pick an old ex bootneck. But they did, so off we set for a weeks snowmobiling in Sweden up in the arctic circle.
I have to say the whole expedition has for me been life changing, I can’t lie I found it both physically and mentally challenging, But that’s just what I needed.
But working back in a team environment with everyone watching each other’s backs has been great. It was also great just to talk and listen to people’s stories and issues, without being judged.

I feel like a great weight has been lifted off my shoulders, I feel more positive and less apprehensive about life and ready to start living again.
A massive heart felt thank you to Ross, Joe, Jonny, Phil, Andy, Scott, Matt, Sam and not for getting Thomas.

I will be eternally grateful.

Karl - VetRun180 - Beneficiary

I don't really have any words to accurately describe the week just gone.
It's was full throttle ski-doos, Banter & belonging from day one.
The reality of it’s impact is finally setting in.
I didn’t want to leave the country,
I didn’t want to leave the lads,
And most importantly I didn’t want this dream experience to end.

I found where I belonged.
I found who I am inside,
I found the me I've locked away for years since leaving the mob,
this was purely down to the lads, the Team leaders & Our guide.

This group of misfits became my family in the space of days.

We are all broken shards of the same mirror, but when together, we reflect back a perfect picture of teamwork, brotherhood loyalty, respect, and camaraderie.

This will week never be forgotten, never be replaced, and never be replicated.

But it's time to come home, and with it bring that old smiling me back too,
the me that hid away fractured & frightened after 2009.

I'm alive, I'm still here and I will be me again.

This wouldn’t have been possible without the TL’s, The Benefactors, The Guides & Hosts involved with Vetrun180, they are the real heroes here, changing lives one Exped at a time.

Tom - VetRun180 - Beneficiary

If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you!

When I was MD from the Royal Marines I felt lost and isolated. Part of me which gave me purpose, the drive to challenge and put myself outside my comfort zone which fuelled my passion for adventure, everything that was instilled within me through training, and the time that I had served was gone.

I am really blessed with amazing pals, a phenomenal wife and family. But you can be amongst all these people you love and love you but still feel lost.
I first heard of Vetrun180 through a friend, he conducted the coast to coast UK, he said it was a life changing, and whenever he talked about it is eyes lit up, he gave me a link for VR180 whom I, with trepidation, but with eagerness, contacted.

l was invited to go on the Sweden trip. I knew it would be a unbelievable experience but yet I was still anxious.

The trip to Sweden was amazing, crossing hundreds of kilometres through the snow-covered wilderness of the Boreal Forest with the chance of spotting wildlife, pristine snow fields, climbing mountains to reach amazing viewpoints and appreciate the Artic silence. Sheer exhilarating days, which prepared you for the hearty meals over fires with unbelievable people whom you just met, where we worked as a team, shared stories, listened to each other and had banter on another level.

A massive thank you to the team on the ground which led and looked after us. Joe, Ross, Thomas and Jonny, your passion & energy are unparalleled, generously sharing your time, caring so deeply about the lads & Vetrun180, stepping up regardless of the personal cost and giving a helping hand when needed.

More importantly I would to express my gratitude to Vetrun180, it’s trustees & all of the people that help behind the scenes for the immeasurably valuable work you do for Veterans which gave me the amazing opportunity to go on the expedition and push myself physically and mentally and putting a smile on my face again.

Phil - VetRun180 - Beneficiary

As we arrived at the airport a similar apprehension was in the air, as for myself and the other shadow team leaders hoping to take on more within the Charity in terms of planning and running trips.
The new beneficiaries were soon put at ease by the team leaders and then before you knew it we were landing in Faro.
We were met by Simon and some of the team and in the airport car park we were presented with our fantastic Ford Rangers which over the next few days would be our lifeline as we would be in very remote areas and needed these reliable and very capable machines which enabled us to be self sufficient.

after a few days the team cohesion started to form and we all started to gel into a well oiled machine, tents out all other admin tasks saw every member start to take ownership and simple get stuck in.
The route selection was fantastic and a number of new routes and areas to “challenge you” were found and every person was taken out of their own comfort zone and each day brought its own challenges, we all have different capabilities but we all also have the same mindset to not let our injuries define who we are or more importantly what we can achieve.

For myself personally this was a fantastic trip to focus more on the Team Leader side of the charity and to take a step back each day and be proud of what we have all achieved.

For example on one of the days we found the sunshine and had made good ground we found ourselves with some down time so the team In its entirety went to the local beach and within 2minutes we were all admiring the various beautiful views from the sea and all up to our necks in sea que one of the guys “lads this is the first time I have been in the sea” quite simple put a moment to remember for the individual. “ Spot on Bob “
I cannot wait for the next stage of my VetRun180 journey.

Massive shout out to the TLs and all the supporters as without your support the beneficiaries would not have their life’s changes and in some cases saved their life’s and their families. You cannot put a price on that and VetRun180 is the only place that has the adventure therapy which is proven to go the extra mile.

I am forever grateful to these trips and thrive on seeing the beneficiaries grow day by day.

Lee - VetRun180 - Beneficiary

If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you!

Well that’s the end of a fantastic week! Before I went away with Vetrun180 I was in a really lonely place, I had pushed my family away and the few friends I had left but now I’ve got ten new friends and looking a head to better times, planning things for the future with a bucket list of thing I want to do, all thanks to Vetrun180 and the great bunch of blokes I went with it! It wasn’t easy to ask for help but I didn’t need to, they just helped me with out asking it was like we were all thinking as one group just like it always was in the force’s things a head look bright for me. Thank you Vetrun180, the trustees, the team leaders, everyone behind the scenes making these trips happen.

Kev - VetRun180 - Beneficiary

If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you!

I have attended 2 Vetrun expeditions, which have been excellent and very well organised. After being inured in Afghanistan they have given me a sense of community, which I know that I contact at anytime if I’m in need. The expeditions have given me a confidence and sense of well being that I haven’t had since leaving the military, this confidence has transferred over to my home and work life and has made a massive difference to me and my family. Overall I would recommend Vetrun to any Veteran who wants a brilliant support network whilst undertaking challenging, well organised expeditions with great Vetrun staff and veterans. I can say without doubt that Vetrun has changed my life for the better after struggling with being discharged from the Royal Marines.

The application process was straight forward with personal interaction from a team leader from the very beginning.

During the second video call of the application process I was offered a place on the Sweden Expedition and from that moment, I had this amazing opportunity to look forward to. That alone, was enough to change my outlook on problems which were previously feeling too substantial and weighing me down.

I can honestly say that VetRun180 has changed my life. I’ve returned to my normal self and dug myself out of the hole I previously felt I was in.
There is comfort in knowing there is a charity out there who offer what VetRun do. This, along with now having met like-minded ex military personnel who have a mixture of their own personal issues.
Meeting, getting to know, and becoming friends with these guys and understanding their problems they’re dealing with, somehow helps in more ways than can be explained.
My VetRun experience began the moment I was offered a place on the expedition and I can’t thank everyone involved in the charity enough.

The Sweden expedition itself was one of the best weeks of my life. The trip was planned and executed to perfection.
As mentioned many times on the expedition, it truly is a ‘bucket list’ trip and one very few would ever be fortunate to experience.

I can’t imagine anyone not benefiting in some way from a VetRun180 expedition. At no point within the trip was any stress or overwhelming responsibilities forced upon the beneficiaries. This is a result of excellent prior organisation and on-the-ground leading from the TL’s, therefore I would recommend VetRun180 to anyone.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in the successful running of VetRun180, and know, that the charity truly is achieving what its set out to do.
Many thanks for this experience of a life time.

Scott - VetRun180 - Beneficiary