THE RAWTHEY PROJECT MOUNT KILIMANJARO CHALLENGE

VETERANS SUPPORTING VETERANS

“Dare to dream! If you did not have the capability to make your wildest wishes come true, your mind would not have the capacity to conjure such ideas in the first place.”

There’s no limitation on what you can potentially achieve, except for the limitation you choose to impose on your own imagination. What you believe to be possible will always come to pass - to the extent that you deem it possible. It really is as simple as that.”

Which is why I find myself embarking on the greatest challenge of my life to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s tallest mountain and the world’s tallest free-standing mountain. Why? you might ask.

My answer - simply because our Armed Forces veterans so desperately need it. Whilst the physical war our armed forces veterans have fought is over, the psychological battles for some rage on or have barely started. It is this mental pain and turmoil which is so sadly affecting so many and stopping them leading their life to the fullest. This drives me to do all I can, despite the adversity, to raise vital funds and awareness for those suffering with their mental health.

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro will test my physical and mental capability beyond my known limits and anything I’ve done before. The sheer enormity and altitude of Africa’s tallest mountain standing at 5,895m will put an enormous stress on my body. Despite the medical risks to me personally following recent procedures, I cannot give up on my Brothers and Sisters in Arms and I must do it - for them and for me. The battle continues every day with their own mountains to climb, suffering with debilitating mental health disorders and just like on the battlefield, my duty is enduring, and we must #LeaveNoOneBehind.

I won’t be tackling this challenge alone, but with 2 other veterans who I served alongside in the army (whose struggles and achievements in tackling their demons with the help of Rawthey are inspirational) and Wilson, the representative of all the unknown soldiers who are battling their demons daily. Here’s our story….

Yeoman Warder Scott Kelly #Beefy409:

Scott served in the Army Air Corps for twenty-four years before becoming the 409th Yeoman Warder or Beefeater since records began. Following his father’s footsteps into the military he served as a Warrant Officer Class 2 Sergeant Major in operations in Northern Ireland, Bosnia and Iraq.

On the outside Scott is a hugely successful and popular character with an online social media following in excess of 132,000 followers and you would be right to assume his life couldn’t get much better. Yet the public persona has concealed Scott’s mental health challenges for a number of years.

Serving on the frontline and consequently the significant trauma and impact of such life, including the significant loss of very close friends, has led Scott to suffer painful and debilitating thoughts and memories. Like many this is something which he attempted to ignore, but a crisis point ultimately led to the call for help.

Thanks to The Rawthey Project Scott was able to receive support quickly and following a psychological assessment and diagnosis of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder he now receives the help he needs.

Wilson:

Wilson is a mannequin and Scott’s best friend! Carried on Scott’s shoulders he’s already completed the London Marathon in 2023 and the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon in 2024 in support of The Rawthey Project.

Wilson is the Unknown Soldier.  To us, he represents every single veteran who we fought alongside that today battle their demons.  

To all soldiers the evocative image of a wounded soldier being carried off the battlefield is deeply meaningful.  We carry Wilson to send a clear message to all our brothers and sisters in arms who are suffering in the shadows, feeling isolated and misunderstood, that they aren’t alone, our duty to each other and the unbreakable bond between comrades is still unbreakable.

Wilson will be carried to the roof of Africa to demonstrate through our actions (not our words) that those struggling aren’t forgotten, and we are with them every step of the way, however tough, however far, we’ll face challenges and together we’ll come through them together.  

Ally Mcilroy:

Ally, a dedicated soldier with a passion for adventure, served in the Army Air Corps for 24 years, showcasing unwavering commitment and bravery throughout her military career. During her tenure Ally embarked on several tours of Iraq, Bosnia and Northern Ireland, facing the challenges of conflict zones with resilience and determination.

Throughout her military career, Ally experienced significant physical challenges, undergoing five knee surgeries that rendered her unable to run without severe pain.

These surgeries not only impacted her physically but also took a toll on her mental health and towards the end of Ally’s career, her psychological illness became acute.

Ally was medically discharged from the Army in Nov 2022, with the support of her family and closest friend (a Rawthey mentor), she has battled through recovery with dignity and determination and now stands as an ambassador for all those in the darkest of places.

Ally is an Aviation Safety Investigator with Leonardo Helicopters and has recently started her own business as a private investigator.

Allan McCracken:

Allan served almost 12 years in the Army Air Corps and loved his time in the military having travelled all over the world including The US, Canada and Europe. Allan also carried out two operational tours of Afghanistan.

After leaving the Army in 2012 Allan found it difficult to get settled back into civilian society and began a rather turbulent time in his life bouncing around from job to job and struggling with his mental health eventually turning to alcoholism and drug addiction.

Allan hit rock bottom on 22nd Dec 2022, street homeless in Falkirk, battling severe drug and alcohol illness, his family in desperation, and reached out to The Rawthey Project for help. On the 31st Dec 2022, Allan left Falkirk and began the first ‘Tom Thacker Course’ in January 2023.

Fast forward 21 months and Allan is now thriving having been clean and sober since the course. Last year Allan completed a full time college course in healthcare, whilst concurrentlyworking as an agricultural fencing contractor and shop assistant in the SPAR, Sedbergh.

On completion of Allan’s college course, he started a job as a children’s residential support worker in a care home.  Allan epitomises post-traumatic growth as he shares his lived experience daily with the children in his care.

Amongst all of Allan’s achievements through recovery, his greatest achievement is being present, fully engaged and a great role model to his children Dylan and Layla.  

He’s studying full time at college with the aim of going to university, and recently started a job as a children’s residential support worker. Although most of all he’s a Dad to his two kids Dylan and Layla.

So, who and what are we raising money for?

Since 2014 the Rawthey Project CIC (Rawthey) has supported 658 of the most vulnerable veterans and their loved ones.  Being relatively small and agile allows Rawthey to react quickly to fill the gaps in care when the needs of the veteran are complex and don’t align with mainstream protocols.

The recurring co-morbidity of addiction has evolved into deep cooperation between Rawthey and Tom Harrison House, the only dedicated veteran residential addiction treatment centre in the UK, based in Liverpool, a Care Quality Commission regulated, registered charity.  

Our aim is to raise £60,000 to fund 5 veterans through the 3 month Tom Thacker Course. This money will immediately remove the veteran from the environment of their struggles (homelessness, addiction, psychological illness, etc) and move them into the peer supported environment in the Yorkshire Dales where their needs will be evaluated (formulated) and a coherent recovery plan will be delivered to achieve independent living and sustainable employment that aligns with their aspirations and potential.

By donating anything you can you are literally saving lives and for that it means the world to me, and I cannot thank you enough.

Yeoman Warder Scott Kelly

#Beefy409