Date Change!

Due to obvious reasons, the expedition was postponed from 2020, and I have now cemented the dates to November 2021, this is very fitting I believe, as I will now begin on Armistice Day and complete on Remembrance Sunday.  The Welsh mountain winter will make this even more challenging, but nothing worth doing is ever easy right?

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I held a boyhood dream of joining the Military as a front line soldier, but unfortunately for medical reasons, I was unable to join at a young age, subsequently pursuing another career path but always holding onto a deep rooted passion and respect for the Armed Forces.

Two further unsuccessful applications to the services has not marred my opinion of the Armed Forces in the slightest, I am simply not suitable due to being tattooed to a level deemed unacceptable by the recruitment guidelines, although I am undergoing laser tattoo removal on my neck in the hopes that I can join following this, commitment right?!

Why do I want to fundraise for SSAFA in particular?

I have been personally affected by the loss of both friends and family through conflict, and have seen staff members and others close to me suffering mentally following the graphic nature of combat, or even the adjustment of joining civvy street, some sadly have taken their own lives.  This is where SSAFA and so many other charities come in, supporting not only our veterans in need, but their families too.

The way most civilians see veterans is a sad testament to the lack of public awareness surrounding these issues, while our forces personnel may seem superhuman, they are still only human, people who do an amazing job under the greatest of pressure, and are sometimes sadly left to fend for themselves once they leave active service.  Charities like SSAFA are raising awareness of this hardship, and with high profile veterans such as Ant Middleton, Jason Fox, Matt 'Ollie' Ollerton and Mark 'Billy' Billingham the hosts of TV's SAS:WDW coming forward and speaking publicly about their struggles, PTSD and other hardships of adjustment, attention is certainly shifting focus onto helping veterans and their families.  These admissions and revelations were a tremendous step to take from ex-SF troops, admitting they struggled and needed help, and has shown that even the elite are still human, and it is perfectly acceptable to ask for help.

I cannot yet serve in the military directly, but have realised that I can however, serve indirectly by raising as much money as possible by organising and carrying out physically and mentally demanding challenges in some of the harshest environments I can find.  I know I'll suffer, but this cannot remotely compare to what our veterans endure, a worthwhile sacrifice on my part if it raises anywhere near my target, knowing that we have immediately and directly improved the support received by those who need it most.

The Brecon Beacons, an area covering around 520 square miles of unforgiving, cruel and beautiful, challenging but rewarding terrain is swathed in Military history and for these reasons, I have tasked myself with crossing it (>130km) in 4 days, with everything I need on my back.

Entering near Abergavenny on Armistice Day - Thursday 11th November 2021 and exiting at Glanaman on Remembrance Sunday - 14th November 2021, (over 50 miles away by vehicle), the relentless mileage on foot with all kit on my back will be punishing.  My second day features with an attempt at the 'Fan Dance', a notorious part of UKSF selection, an additional 16 mile run starting at the 'Red Phone Box', up Corn Du and the Pen-Y-Fan, down Jacobs ladder, into the forest below, and back, this has to be completed by SF applicants in under 10 hours during the winter selection, and 4 hours during summer selection, an incredible effort.  I'm under no illusion I will not hit that timing, but will endeavor to complete the route in as good a time as I am capable.

Please, share this on your social media, donate what you can, follow me online through my training, and enjoy my ever worsening grimaces, thank you for reading, and thank you for donating.  Please note that all monies raised during this event will be donated directly to the Tyne & Wear regional branch of SSAFA.

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SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity has been providing lifelong support to our Forces and their families since 1885. In 2018, SSAFA helped more than 82,000 people in need, from Second World War veterans to those who have served in more recent conflicts, and their families.