Arc Of Attrition 50

I am raising vital funds for life-changing mental health treatment for veterans.

Hi, 

For all that don't know me, I'm Luke. I like challenges and pushing myself as much as I can to find my limits and beat them. I've had mental health struggles in the past, as have a few in my family so I'm very aware of how difficult times can be and that's part of why I strongly believe in what Combat Stress do. I've always had a lot of respect for the military and am very happy to support those who serve their country where I can. We all know that mental health can affect anyone at any time, as well as being far more common than we'd like so it's hardly surprising that the military community can have struggles with this - especially given what they do and where they can be.

My challenge is the Arc Of Attrition 50 mile (81.2Km) race with 2500m+ of aggregate elevation gain. It's tough, very tough. It follows the coast from Porthcurno to Porthtowan along the trails and will be the hardest challenge I have taken on so far. It's semi-supported, meaning that I will have to carry all of the kit I'll need, a minimum of 1.5L of water with the only exception being that I'm given a hot meal during the race, as well as having access to a few snack stops along the route. The cut off time is 15.5h which in January, means I'll run a lot of the course in the dark and cold. Everyone says the hardest part of an ultramarathon is the mental, which in the cold, dark and with what will likely be a 12+ hour run for me is a fairly good way of testing myself to the limits. It's also a fairly good representation of how mental health struggles can feel, the main difference being that I've chosen to do this and there's a definitive end point, which is why this charity is so important.

So what does the charity do? 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. They're at the end of a phone 24/7 ready to provide support, be that through a call or text - as well as by email.

Finally, if you've read this far then thank you - both myself and Combat Stress really appreciate it. Even if you don't donate or can't afford to, please share this with as many as you can and spread the word about what this amazing charity does.  

If you do donate then a massive thank you from myself and know that your money won't go to waste. All of it goes directly to Combat Stress and in addition, any fundraising up to £1000 is matched by my employer so your money will go even further!