I've been volunteering with Combat Stress for over five years now, and I honestly find it really fulfilling. I decided to get involved after hearing about the death of an SAS medic on the news. It left me feeling pretty stunned, thinking about how the help he desperately needed might not have been obvious or available to him.
My own great grandfather served in the medical corps during WW1. He survived the horrors of that conflict but returned to Dublin quietly enduring “shell shock” and like many men of his generation never spoke about the battlefield. Thankfully, times have changed, but no veteran should feel abandoned by the system and we can all do our bit, no matter how big or small to make a difference.
I’ve been volunteering with other charities for many years and it’s a great diversion away from the rigours of your day job, immensely fulfilling and you get to meet like minded individuals who share a common purpose.
I always remember the day a veteran visited our stand at an awareness charity event and proclaimed “Combat Stress saved my life”, you don’t forget days like this! It really stuck with me.
No day is the same volunteering. It’s still about building awareness of how this charity is supporting our veterans’ mental health. When you meet other volunteers, who share a connection back to someone who is learning to live with PTSD, it is genuinely humbling and life affirming. It’s the ultimate sacrifice to serve your country, so it’s the least we can do, to serve our brave veterans when they need us most.
When I attend our fundraising events, it’s listening to the heartwarming stories of people’s connection to Combat Stress, be it a veteran or their associated family and friends that is hard to forget.
I’ve met some wonderful, hard working staff, donors & volunteers who are determined to keep this charity in existence for the next 100 years.
If you are thinking about volunteering, get involved, you are indirectly helping to save a life and helping our veterans to learn to live with PTSD and you’ll make new friends.
