My Activity Tracking
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My target 100 mi
I'm taking part in the Combat Stress 100 Miles in May 2024 challenge
This year I will be taking on March In March 2024 and 100 Miles in May 2024 to raise vital funds for life-changing mental health treatment for veterans. 100 Miles in May 2023 event really helped me increase my fitness plus raised £831.54 - that's £1,118 overall.
Combat Stress is the UK's leading charity for veterans' mental health. For over a century, they've helped former servicemen and women deal with issues like trauma, anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Today, they provide support to veterans from every service and every conflict.
I’m taking vital steps towards ensuring veterans can get the support they need.
Thank you so much for your continued support.
My Achievements
Uploaded profile pic
Shared page
Self donated
Raised £250
Raised £500
Raised £750
Reached Fundraising Goal
Created a Team
Completed my challenge
My Updates
Walk with Combat Stress and get fitter and/or donate starting 1st May
Sunday 28th Apr
Combat Stress helps your community, your neighbours and probably members of your family. Its not a Government problem to solve - its our own to support, donate and help. Combat Stress provide clinical treatment and support for veterans from the British Armed Forces, with a focus on those with some of the most complex mental health issues. When some military personnel leave service, their experiences can’t easily be left behind. Without treatment, psychological trauma can eventually tear lives apart.
Walk with Combat Stress and get fitter and/or donate starting 1st May : https://lnkd.in/esSfsD6i
The facts: UK armed forces veterans population who have either previously served in the regular forces, reserve forces or both, Census 2021 data.
**In 2021, 1,853,112 people in England and Wales reported that they had previously served in the UK armed forces (3.8% of usual residents aged 16 years and over).
**Of the UK armed forces veterans in England and Wales, 76.3% (1.4 million people) previously served in the regular forces, 19.5% (361,000 people) in the reserve forces, and 4.3% (79,000 people) served in both the regular and reserve forces.
**37,000 UK armed forces veterans (2.0%) lived in communal establishments and the remainder (slightly over 1.8 million, 98.0%) lived in households.
**There were 1.7 million households (7.0% of all households) with one or more persons who had served in the UK armed forces.
**The local authorities with the highest proportion of veterans included Gosport (12.5%), North Kesteven (10.2%) and Richmondshire (9.5%) in England, and Conwy (5.9%) in Wales.
Combat Stress '100-Miles-In-May 2024' = helping Service Veterans.
Saturday 27th Apr
My journey with Combat Stress started sometime ago with monthly donations. Then were cranked up by the memorable advice of my Hepatology Consultant - don't drink, loose weight and exercise or......
Virtual events like "March-March" and "100-Miles-In-May", are an ideal way to slowly ease back into fitness. Logging the miles with Fitbit and Posting on LinkedIn and Face Book keeps you in touch with kindred spirits (non-alcoholic of course). You get drawn into reading veterans military trauma stories written in their own words - conflicts that to most are an ignored TV News item. https://combatstress.org.uk/Veteran-Stories
Then Amazon deliver books like "Chinook Crew 'Chick'" by Liz McConaghy, and "An Officer, Not a Gentleman" by
Mandy Hickson. Or you go "Inside The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst" where thanks to Combat Stress, I had the fantastic experience of a historical tour of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst buildings and grounds led by former senior military officer. Also on the tour, meet the amazing Sujan Katuwal whose LinkedIn profile says "has completed 1000miles in 100days for Ex Gurkha Veterans | Philanthropist | Freeman of the City of London | Donated Over 200,000 meals to key workers | Restaurant owner"
If you really wanted to hammer home why you should donate read this from Combat Stress ""A walk in the woods, a summer BBQ, an evening in front of the TV. These are things many enjoy. But for some veterans, these things can trigger traumatic memories and transport them back to a moment in conflict. Our latest campaign highlights the day-to-day reality of living with post-traumatic stress disorder." https://lnkd.in/eZ5KahFf
Inside The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst 18 April 2024
Friday 19th Apr
Also on the tour meet the amazing Sujan Katuwal whose
LinkedIn profile says "has completed 1000miles in 100days for Ex Gurkha Veterans | Philanthropist | Freeman of the City of London | Donated Over 200,000 meals to key workers | Restaurant owner"
Combat Stress and the Sandhurst Trust really did us proud. To quote their website "Although the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst is an enclosed establishment, hundreds of visitors are welcomed each year on historical tours organised by the Sandhurst Trust. Immerse yourself in the history of this unique establishment, recognisable around the world, where officer training has continued unbroken since 1812. Stand in rooms where many statesmen and rulers have trained including our future King, the HRH Prince of Wales, Winston Churchill and the current King Abdullah II of Jordan. Learn about key military figures whose names adorn the prestige rooms in Old College including the Duke of Wellington and the 1st Duke of Marlborough.
Tours take place throughout the year and are led by experienced tour guides, all retired officers, who share their extensive knowledge on the history of the Academy and its buildings. Typical tours last 2.5 hours, giving visitors plenty of time to take in the history of the buildings and rooms.
Tours include visits to the main prestige room of Old College including the Indian Army Memorial Room, Wellington Room, History Room, and the Old College Grand Entrance. Also included are the two chapels on site -The Royal Memorial Chapel and Roman Catholic Chapel. Tours can now include a visit to the new Queen Elizabeth II statue that was installed in 2022 to commemorate Her Majesty the Queen's Platinum Jubilee." Tours | Sandhurst Trust
Team TAB - Tactical Advance to Battle
Monday 15th Apr
But when you Google TAB, you get an idea what out our Veterans experienced "In the British Army, loaded marching is considered a core skill and is tested annually in a 12.9 kilometers (8 mi) Annual Fitness Test (formerly known as a Combat Fitness Test) carrying 15–25 kg depending on the arm (25 kg for infantry, 20 kg for artillery, armour/cavalry, and engineers/sappers; 15 kg for other arms and services). Infantry soldiers are additionally expected to complete advanced tests, typically a first day of 20 km (12.43 miles) with 30 kilograms (66 lb) in three and a half hours, followed by a similar march with 20 kilograms (44 lb) the next day. Within each arm there are more demanding units (such as close support, commandos and parachutists) which have their own internal standards and tests. Special forces also use their own tests."
So maybe at 75, I should have joined Team YOMP (Your Own Marching Pace) - No matter which team, your donations will make a real impact on veterans' mental health.
Mack the Prehistoric Hunter (with prehistoric glasses) who has returned thru the mists of time to 'Walk 100 Miles in May 2024' for Combat Stress.
Monday 8th Apr
Please donate generously to Mack the Prehistoric Hunter (with prehistoric glasses) who has returned thru the mists of time to "Walk 100 Miles in May 2024" for Combat Stress. Current generation 's overall fundraising progress is £1,423.20 (08Mar2024).
Walking 100 miles across the month is 3.23 miles or 7,000 steps per day. My goal is £250 and 200 miles. Thanks to your help my overall fundraising progress £1,423.20
During 2023 nearly 12,500 veterans benefited from Combat Stress's help: 7,929 called their Helpline, 3,190 accessed their online self-help resources and 1,375 directly received support from their specialist staff. For over 100 years Combat Stress has existed to change the lives of veterans who have mental health issues as a result of their service to our country.
While a lot has changed over the last 100 years, one thing remains the same: how vital Combat Stress support is to the veteran community. In the Combat Stress latest Annual Report you can read more about how they’re working towards achieving their vision that all former servicemen and women with complex mental health problems can live full and meaningful lives.
