Tom Clayton

One Step at a Time: 200+ Miles for Combat Stress

Since January, I’ve made a promise to myself: move every day. No excuses, no “I’ll start tomorrow.” Just one foot in front of the other.

Fast forward to now, and I’ve walked over 200 miles, every single step in support of Combat Stress, a charity that does life-changing work for veterans living with mental health challenges.

I won’t pretend it’s been easy. Some days the weather was awful. Some days my motivation was even worse. There were days when the last thing I wanted to do was lace up my boots and head out. But I did it anyway and those are the days that mattered most.

Walking gives you a lot of time to think. About how lucky many of us are. About the battles people fight long after the uniform comes off. And about how mental health struggles don’t always show on the outside but they’re real, heavy, and exhausting.

That’s why Combat Stress means so much. They’re there for people who’ve given so much already, helping them find support, stability, and hope when things feel overwhelming.

Somewhere along these 200 miles, this challenge stopped being just a fundraiser. It became the start of something new for me, building positive habits, showing up for myself, and proving that small, consistent effort really does add up.

If you’ve supported, donated, shared, or even just asked how it’s going — thank you. Truly. Every bit of encouragement has helped keep me moving forward.

I’m not stopping here. This feels like the beginning, not the end.

Because sometimes, change doesn’t come from one big moment, it comes from choosing to take the next step.

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!