Formerly, I was a Royal Marines Commando and served for 14 years deploying on three tours in Afghanistan. My second tour saw me seriously injured by a suicide bomber and on my final third tour of duty, on November 5th 2008 of all dates, I unfortunately stepped on an Improvised Explosive Device/ Mine which robbed me of my left leg below knee, digits to my right hand, left me with severe scarring, took my left eye and left me facially disfigured in which it took 11 operations to rebuild my features. Nearly 6 years of my life was spent in total to be prepared physically to transition into the civilian world and start a new journey post military career watched over by the keen eye of the RM Corps and that of Hasler Company RM.

During this emotional period I found a charity in its infancy called HorseBack UK back in 2010.

I have worked for the equine charity HBUK for over five years and was initially seconded by the Royal Marines during my own recovery.

Therefore, I wish to give something back and raise funds for an organisation that has not only shown myself but so many others a new path to follow.

‘The Phoenix Fire Walk' is for me personally symbolic in that it takes courage to follow a new path, it takes courage to face ones fears, but mostly despite injury… You can come back from whatever you have been through be that physical injury, combat stress related injury, or both.

Hence I’m doing it twice, symbolic of there and back, symbolic of twice being injured and surviving… and of course having a prosthetic is blatantly cheating so I have to do it twice!

Folks, please support my efforts and sponsor me but also, thank you for taking the time to read this.

HorseBack UK

Five years ago the charity was founded in direct response to the catastrophic injuries suffered by sixteen young men serving in 45 Commando Royal Marines on Operation Herrick 9. The idea came from the need for service personnel who had completed often very long and complex medical and clinical treatment to regain confidence, self-esteem and a sense of mission. It is not only damaged bodies and minds which can make recovery painful and difficult, but also the abrupt and unchosen shift from highly motivated military service to civilian life. The charity also recognised that these individuals needed time and space to make good choices about moving into a second career. At our farm in the rolling Scottish countryside, we could give them that time and space.

The success of the first four years has allowed HorseBack to widen its remit. The charity is now dedicated to serving the wider community and is actively engaged with a number of civilian organisations, focusing in particular on children who are socially and academically disengaged. They come to us with a variety of problems, from chaotic home lives to learning disabilities. We treat them exactly as we would any other course participant, and the emphasis is on hard work and rigour. Just as with our military participants, they too need a sense of mission. The resulting sense of achievement is very touching to witness.

Please check out the Facebook site for yourself:

And don’t forget to like it!

https://www.facebook.com/HorseBackUK?fref=ts