Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

The need for better mental health support for the Armed Forces has never been higher. I’ve lost 14 friends to suicide - twice as many than those I’ve lost to combat, despite doing four tours in Afghanistan and one in Iraq. We can’t let that continue.

I’ve experienced the effects of PTSD and felt I didn’t get the right support I needed.  After watching many of my comrades struggle with mental health and tragically losing 14  comrades to suicide, I realised there needs to be better mental health offered to Armed Forces. 

So, I set up Head Up Charity along with three other veterans in order to provide a non-militarised retreat centre where Armed Forces can receive holistic and personalised mental health treatment. Here they will receive a combination of positive mind set techniques and therapies with an 18 month after care plan.

For the last 7 months, I’ve has been running around the entire coast line of the UK - a total of 5000 miles - to raise awareness and funds for the retreat centre.

Its been a gruelling challenge - I carried a 10KG bag with everything I needed through weather storms, heat waves, overcome two cracked ribs, hovered burns and a snake bite, but my motto is pain is temporary and pride is forever. You can be proud in the fact you’ve pushed through it and overcome it

I’m so grateful to the support of thousands of individuals, veterans, charities have joined me along different legs of the  journey and so many kind supporters who’ve offered me a meal or a place to rest for the night. I’ve met so many incredible people - including Lords, MPs, teachers, veterans and fishermen. 

Myself and Head Up Charity have raised £400K so far and still need to raise £3million by end of 2023 to make the life changing and potentially life saving retreat possible. 

If you are able to support, please do and know that it will contribute to better mental health not only for armed forces who suffer but also their families and those around them.

“If this isn’t worth supporting I don’t know what is”  Stephen Fry

www.head-up.org.uk

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