Testimonials

I was fortunate enough to be selected to attend the Portugal phase of the Vetrun 180 4 X 4 expedition from 11th to 22 July 23. I was blown away by the experience and just how much growth and development I personally took away from my time with the Vetrun 180 team, from start to finish. The charity is run by veterans for veterans so from the outset we were all on the same page, and it was a safe and inclusive environment to be in.

Prior to the expedition the team and team leaders met at the LandRover Experience Center in Skipton to practice our offroad driving which included deep water driving and recovery of stranded vehicles using winch and local materials to our best advantage. We then moved on to basic first aid training which gave the team a proper chance to team build and get to know each other.

Ben and several of the team leaders where there throughout and supported all the beneficiaries with any issues or hurdles which arose throughout the 2 days of pre deployment training. In summary the pre deployment training was a great experience getting to know the other team members and refresh old skills prior to the main deployment to Portugal.

The 11-day deployment came and went in the blink of an eye. All anxieties were quickly alleviated by Ben, Sam, Drew, Danny, and Skip Rat aka - Scotty. The driving was challenging at times due to the terrain. Navigation was also tricky due to some of the tracks we were using not being on the map and some on the ground not being on the map, but it all added to the teamwork and partnering of all the team throughout the deployment.

My favourite day was when we hit the deep sand tracks, it was when all 4 vehicles were pushed to their safe limits. I remember driving my vehicle and looking across at the other lads driving their own vehicle and their navigators sat beside them and it was in that moment I saw the whole team come alive and beam and grin and laugh out loud with excitement and determination to keep the vehicles under control and heading in the right direction. I hadn't felt like this for several years and after talking to the lads afterwards, they also felt the same way. It was an amazing day.

Particular thanks go to the UK based back up team, Ross and Ian who were in constant communication's giving advice and support to the team throughout.

Also of note was the calibre of Vehicle team leaders Sam, Scotty, Danny and Drew - They were empathetic and patient throughout our time away. Nothing was too much trouble and they supported and encouraged us to embrace the challenge every single day. They were the reason the team jelled so well.

Finally, my sincere thanks go out to Ben the overall expedition lead, who shouldered the burden of responsibility with skill, tact, and professionalism every step of the way. He gave way above and beyond of himself to ensure each and every one of us had the best experience possible. He worked extremely hard behind the scenes to ensure everything ran with military precision and his pre deployment planning and execution was off the chart accurate.

I had an amazing experience on the Vetrun 180 Portugal expedition. I started withdrawn and pretty closed down. I think that was the same for the other beneficiaries as well however I came away feeling more relaxed and confident to face the challenges of further surgery and difficult engagements with Veterans UK/ War Pension and the AFCS. Again, I feel the rest of the team left invigorated and ready to face the world and whatever it has to throw at them.

I would without doubt recommend Vetrun180 to all injured veterans from all of the armed forces. It is a unique one-of-a-kind charity giving all participant the opportunity of a lifetime and I would say to anyone thinking of reaching out to Ben and the charity to just go for it, you will absolutely love it.

One last person who I would like to thank for making this amazing experience possible is Simon, the charity CEO. Without his input and drive and determination none of the Vetrun 180 expeditions will be possible, so thank you Simon!

My final thoughts are that the Portugal expedition was absolutely amazing. I felt very lucky to share the experience with high calibre individuals who I now call my friends. It was not an easy experience. It is no holiday. But it is not supposed to be, it was challenging in lots of ways. The challenge was what made the rewards all the more satisfying. 

As the charity says in it mission statement: "If It Doesn't Challenge You, It won't Change You!!"

Not really sure how I can describe the experience that VETRUN180 provide.

I have literally spent years trying different things but concept of Adventure Therapy works and I mean it really works. I’ve been blown away on this trip by the views, locations, dedication, commitment, challenges that we faced, overcoming barriers that may have stopped us and life changing decisions for some!

Absolutely bloody brilliant! I cannot wait to give back!

Andy - VetRun180 - Beneficiary

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

I first heard of Vetrun180 through the Royal Marines network back in 2018. They were looking for applicants for a trip to Oman and I knew nothing more about it than that.

When my application was successful, I spent 10 days driving jeep wranglers through the rub-al-khali desert with 15 other veterans. I didn't know when I applied how much I needed that time away with the blokes.

After the expedition I approached my normal life with a refreshed mind and a more positive attitude. Since then, I have guided a cold weather expedition in Sweden, and then was invited to be a team leader on two Scotland expeditions, driving off road from East to West Coast.

The opportunity not only to be around the blokes as a beneficiary, but to also give back and lead expeditions, has been eye-opening, humbling, exciting and extremely rewarding all at the same time!

VetRun180 is a fantastic Charity that takes physically and mentally injured veterans on challenging expeditions around the world.

Recently, after completing a short application process I was offered a space to join 10 other beneficiaries (all injured veterans) in Portugal. We deployed in 4 4x4 vehicles on a phenominal off-road experience around a mix of challenging terrains.

The expedition covered over 1,600kms from the highest peak in southern Portugal (Serra da Estrela, 1,993m) to sand tracks and sea views on the coastline. Alongside the driving experience, the team camped out each night and this helped to re-invoke the sense of adventure and teamwork lost when medically discharged out of the British Military.

Adventure therapy is the key concept of the trip, simple but challenging environments that helps us all individually develop and progress through our own recovery journey.

Thank you to the team at VetRun180 for the amazing opportunity.

Ben - VetRun180 - Beneficiary

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

I found the LANTRA course very useful, and the 1st Aid course is always useful to anyone, and a vital skill to have refreshed periodically. I found the groups of Veterans to be a bunch of guys who truly worked together , mucking in and cracking routines to keep everything on track, it gave us all a sense of purpose and I came away with a nice afterglow , that I had gone out of my comfort zone of Apathy that can often overwhelm me, into a feeling of rekindled self worth. I didn't believe a week driving a 4x4 would give me such a buzz , but its good medicine and the Dits and general camaraderie were priceless. Thank you to all the people behind the scenes that made this trip possible.

It was so beneficial to be around other guys that suffer with PTSD as it made it easier for me to open up and speak about my problems. It took a few days for this to kick in but all of us being in the same boat and sharing cooking etc made it seamless. Listening to a lot of the others that have been veterans a while has opened my eyes and made me realize that there are a lot more of us out there that struggle with PTSD or struggle with other injuries.

The trip has also increased my network of brothers and I will be in contact with some of the guys over the next few months sharing experience and being an ear if needed.

We arrived at the airport and I already felt like I was somewhere I belonged again, unrestrained in my comments, listened too & valued, then the group got bigger and better and before I knew it the team had fully assembled and the trip to Luleä in the Swedish Lapland began.

Arriving at the hotel late in the evening, it was a case of, head down see ya in the AM.

Breakfast done & onto the transport that took us out to the edge of the frozen Bothnian Sea. We met our guide that would take us to the Artic Circle. He can only be described as the Swedish Austin Powers, a truly amazing person & cue 6 days of pure entertainment, “Do I make you horny baby..do I? etc rained out across the terrain (I laughed so much on this trip I almost regained a six pack!).

The challenge itself was so hard at times, such low temps coupled my knee & back injuries was tough. 6-7 hours a day, through snowstorms & forests!

No matter how hard it got or any incidents that we encountered with people falling off in 5ft of snow, snowmobiles getting stuck, collecting water, cooking meals, making fires to keep us warm every night.

Despite all this the one thing that not one single person on the trip has lost is the ability to come together when needed, build a lifelong bond, help, support and listen when it’s needed.
The most amazing group of people who, have the most challenging physical & mental life changing injuries, who just got on with it.

I achieved more personally from spending the most challenging and rewarding 6 days in Swedish Lapland with Ross, Ben, Mac, Billy, Sam, Pez, Johnny & Lee than I have for many years, I left feeling rejuvenated and ready to challenge myself again in the world and life I live in and for that I will be eternally grateful to VetRun180.

I'm an ex Royal Marine Commando, and years after leaving the military, I suffered with PTSD and I was in a very dark place, luckily I got help but still wasn't 100% and then I herd of VetRun180 through a friend who was involved with VetRun180.

I got invited to go on an off-road expedition from the east coast to the west coast of Scotland. I said I'd go but as the date came closer I nearly cancelled because I started to get very anxious, but as there moto says "if it doesn't challenge you, it won't change you ", so I still went along.

I'm very glad I did because not only did I meet some great people who are also going through some personal challenges, it helped me relax and enjoy what is actually important in life.

Not only did Vetrun180 help me challenge myself, VetRun180 reminded me that being outdoors and outside your comfort zone is a good thing.

Big thank you to Vetrun180 and everyone involved.

Without sounding dramatic, VetRun has saved my life twice!

You really won’t understand what it has done for me. I’ve gone from a crying bumbling mess back in October to me seeing the invincibility I once had.

Looking at the blokes from afar, I saw it in them too!

I read a newspaper article back in February 2019 about VetRun180. I looked them up online and submitted an interest form.

I was invited to go on an off-roading expedition to Galicia. The trip changed my whole outlook on life in general, I was in a pretty dark place at the time & the time away with like minded people was exactly what I needed.
I am lucky enough to have an amazing family but other than them I didn’t really have any drive or any goals set.

I am now a Team Leader with the charity and have been on vehicle based off-roading trips across Europe and more recently Snowmobiling in Sweden.

I have gained numerous qualifications through VetRun180 in Off-Road driving, Snowmobiling, First Aid and many more.

The concept of “Adventure Therapy” and the motto of “If It Doesn’t Challenge You It Won’t Change You” quite simply just works.

All expeds are led by injured veterans for the benefit of other injured veterans & it is because of this that relationships are forged.

Being placed out of your comfort zone & everyone having to pull in the same direction to be successful provides an unbelievable sense of belonging.

Being back around veterans who all have something in common, in that they are struggling in one way or another, whether that be physically or with their mental health & by working together to achieve what might seem unachievable to some is inspiring.

I owe the charity & the trustees a massive debt of gratitude, without VetRun180 in my life I would be stuck in a rut, plodding on with no sense of purpose, just going from day to day.

If anyone is out there reading this and thinks that they wouldn’t mind doing what we do and getting involved then, DO NOT HESITATE, complete the contact form on the VetRun180.org website and one of us will be in touch.

It might sound a bit of a cliché however, it could just change your whole perception on things, like it has mine and so many other lads and lasses across the UK.