My story is no more or less exciting than the next persons. My military and private contracting career has been a rollercoaster ride of highs and low, tragedy and joy with periods of childlike hilarity and sheer terror.  

During a recent conversation with a close Army friend of mine, it was agreed that we all have baggage of some description, which some of us can manage with little or no external help. Sadly, some veterans do not have this luxury and rather than seek help, it is bottled up inside like a ticking bomb. No-one can sustain that amount of stress and pressure for long, which invariably ends with heart wrenching consequences.  

I had always claimed that I would do something to help these veterans, but never quite got around to it. I was either too busy or too wrapped up in my own life. I also knew that once I started this project, that I would be forced to confront certain aspects of my own life that I had been avoiding for many years.   

Throughout my life, I have been inspired by a surprisingly small amount of people and one of those few, once said something to me many years ago and, for that, I will be forever in their debt.  

My main source of inspiration to do this, is mostly due to my unwavering respect and admiration for every single man or woman who elects to serve in their country's Armed Forces and, who sometimes subsequently pay a high price for that service. That soldiers regularly pay the ultimate sacrifice for their country makes me both sad and proud. But what of the ones who return home only to continue to live with their experiences on a daily basis? What about them?

I have had the absolute pleasure of serving with both British and American Forces, predominantly in Iraq and Afghanistan and I am constantly humbled by individual acts of self-sacrifice and that unique ability to smile in the face of unimaginable hardship, unique to the British and American soldier.

Quite simply, it's now time for me to do something to help. So, on the 1st Aug 2015, I am walking, unsupported, across the Continental US from Cape Cod, MA to Huntington Beach, CA; a distance of 3178 miles which, if I can sustain a daily mileage of 30 miles per day, I should complete in approximately 108 days. Realistically and factoring in both foreseeable and unforeseeable circumstances, I am giving myself a timeframe of 120-150 days. 

My hope is that the publicity during the walk will raise awareness and funds for Combat Stress (UK) and The Wounded Warrior Project (USA) . Whilst walking, I also plan to give out cards to members of the public, with details of how they can donate on-line, if they wish to.  

The enormity of this event weighs heavily upon my shoulders and, occasionally, I am overcome with utter panic. But then, I simply think of the thousands of UK and US Veterans who go through unimaginable suffering every day and I am brought quickly back to reality by how inexplicably fortunate I have been in my own military and private security career. I am extremely nervous about undertaking such an event. On paper, it sounds as if it will be a great voyage of self discovery for me and it probably will; however 108 days of walking 30 miles per day really does fill me with so much self-doubt about my own ability to sustain that pace.

This is the challenge. This is why I want your money. I am funding this event myself, although currently, I'm as poor as I ever have been in my life. All I'm asking for is to donate something...anything to this cause and for that I'll walk 3178 miles in under 150 days..... Hopefully :-)

I was recently interviewed on British Forces TV and to see why I will never have a career on the telly, simply click on the link below.

 http://forces.tv/02019161

In my Gallery, there's a video of a band called "Big Wave". It was written and sung by a friend of mine called Mike Cullen. The song is about how a traumitised soldier deals with returning home and it sums up exactly, everything I want to say...but does it so much better than I ever could. 

Please take a minute...turn off your TV and listen to this song...listen to the lyrics and think about what that must feel like....please just listen...

....this is exactly why I am doing what I'm doing....

Details of my Route and other planning considerations (bears, hurricanes, alien abductions and strange mountain men etc.) can be found on my designated Facebook page "Not Broken Just Damaged Walk Across America 2015" Please, if you get a spare 5 minutes, have a look, like it and feel free to say Hi.

Thank you for clicking on this link and for taking the time to read this...but most of all...thank you for all your donations. I am constantly humbled by people's generosity.

Neil