Fiona Heppinstall

My Activity Tracking

45
mi

My target 10 mi

Saturday 29th, 12th and last walk for Combat Stress

A lovely day but unfortunately the family mood was low, partly due to PTSD, partly due to other reasons. So I walked on my own this afternoon. Before my knee replacement ops I walked at snails pace, today I did the first mile in 21 minutes, which for me is amazing!
In my earlier post I mentioned the M6 crash and devastation it has caused to so many people. The RAF pilot who committed suicide by driving at speed, the wrong way, in the 3rd/fast lane. He crashed into a car carrying a family. Both parents and one child killed, another child, badly injured and now an orphan. The families of all involved must be devastated. Now if that RAF officer had been able to get specialist help from Combat Stress, all involved may still be alive and well today.
Thank you so much to all who have donated. My current total £622. It's pay day soon so if you would like to donate then, please do, the link will still work: https://events.combatstress.org.uk/fundraisers/fionaheppinstall?fbclid=IwY2xjawI-nX1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHZPiAFy2-Lm3pwH61-hU1z8ve-IKWuzFH6dSozFBtt2qGW9Bg2sYxPu1tw_aem_UUkd1VCvkzBn-dWa5W7D7A

I'm adding a photo of daffodils, i took at the Racecourse. To me, daffodils give the hope of Spring, Spring is a new year, new beginnings and new or renewed life, it brings hope and that it what anyone with PTSD wants, hope that life will get better but they often can't see it. Combat Stress teaches them how to find and look for that hope again. Thank you. xx

Wednesday 19th - 11th walk

Twice around Halton Moor Nature Reserve, Leeds today with the family and dog. Great to be out in the sunshine and raising money for Combat Stress. Thank you Andy, Kat and Loki for coming too and encouraging me to go out #MarchinMarch.

Tuesday 18th, my 10th #marchinmarch

Jane met me at Pontefract racecourse and I promptly fell over, the mud was slippery! Luckily only bruised pride but felt daft! It didn't stop us having a walk around the Racecourse, it was a beautiful day and we didn't stop chatting. Thank you for your company Jane and for joining me. xx

Tuesday 18th,

Today I have received my biggest donation yet - thank you Anne Scott. This has also smashed my £500 target!! So setting a new target of £750, it's 18th March today so 13 days left to go so let's see if we can get to £750! I will continue to walk - March, every day i can so yay! C'mon, please donate, even just a few pence, it will all add up. Thank you xx

Saturday my 9th walk

Lovely day for a walk! Back to Pontefract racecourse and Andy came too. It's great to company, really encouraging - thanks Andy. xx

Friday - my 8th walk

I've had a few days off as 60+ year old body needed a bit of R & R then a busy few more days but managed to get out for a walk. A gentler distance just half way round Pontefract Racecourse but then as I still felt ok, did a circuit round the Lake.

Look

Look what arrived on Thursday! A beanie! Michael claimed it straight away and he's very cosy!

Saturday 7th March

A drier day and I met Andy and Hunty for another walk around Pontefract racecourse. We met Kat and Nova at the Lake and fed the ducks. Great to get out again today but a few days off now.

6th March - my 6th Day

Today 1 walked round Pontefract racecourse again. I was going to have some company but unfortunately life got in the way but maybe another day. It was lovely, bright and sunny again and I think I did it in record time - for me, anyway 😀.

6th March - Halton Moor Nature Reserve

Another bright, sunny day, another day when plans changed. Temple Newsam was the chosen destination but the car park was full and over flowing so we opted for Halton Moor Nature Reserve instead. It was lovely, found a weir and a playground where Hunty enjoyed the slide!

5th Match 4th walk

Another bright, sunny day so headed off to Pontefract Racecourse again, got half way round and decided to retrace my steps, so still walked 2 miles but for the 2nd half, had a different view! Back at the Lake where the surrounding bank has been refurbished, I literally marched round it in 7 minutes and a quick burn off. Another day tomorrow.

3rd active day - 4th March

Today didn't go quite as planned. 'The Reason' I'm doing this Marching in March went to the GP this morning who promptly sent him to A & E with a bad chest infection or was it something worse? Luckily, nothing worse but it has meant we have spent most of the day at the hospital. So it isn't an official Walk but I ve certainly put a few steps in. More tomorrow and THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE DONATIONS!! XX

March 2nd - Day 2

It was a another bright sunny but chilly morning. Another walk around Pontefract Racecourse clocking up another 2+ miles. Really looking forward to the rest of the month with lots more walks planned with lots of people: family, friends: ex WRAF, and from Tunstall Response too. Thank you all. xx

1st March - 1st walk

It couldn't have been better weather. Walked 2.4 miles around Pontefract Racecourse with Andy and Hunty. We met Kat and Nova afterwards at the park as Nova had been swimming at Aspire and demonstrating strokes for others learning.

1st post

I aim to walk as many days in March as I can. It may only be 0.5mile or it maybe a lot more but I want to raise awareness of Combat Stress and the great work they do in helping veterans from WW2 to conflicts to date, to deal with Post Traumatic Stress from their experiences.

It is very personal to me as my husband suffered with PTSD before it was a real known thing in the early 90's. Sadly it lead to the breakdown of our marriage but the good news is that he got help with Combat Stress who taught him how to deal life and showed him to change the way he thought of different situations. The even better news is that we got back together and married again 3 years ago. So I, for one, want to say thank you to Combat Stress. I had both knees replaced 2 years ago, so I will walk as far as they will allow me!

Support my March in March

This year I will be taking on March in March to raise vital funds for life-changing mental health treatment for veterans.

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 on March in March to help take vital steps towards ensuring veterans can get the support they need.

Thank you so much for your support and together we march!

My Achievements

Completed my challenge

Thank you to my Sponsors

£127.20

Elaine Barber

Your commitment is outstanding

£53.32

Anne Scott

£31.80

Michael Heppinstall

Donating on behalf of Michael Heppinstall who says 'Thank you Combat Stress, my life was very different before your help'.

£31.80

Alison Heckermann

Well done so far, and keep going!

£31.80