THE STORY...

PentUp organises and runs Modern Pentathlon competitions to raise money on behalf of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) charities, for the therapy and treatment of serving and retired British Military personnel who are affected by PTSD.

RECOVERY THROUGH SPORT...

Evidence based research has shown that the process of training and preparing for a competitive multi discipline sport, can form an essential part of therapeutic treatment and rehabilitation for sufferers of PTSD. The foundation has been set up specifically to support a Modern Pentathlon event at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst on 14 October 2017, with a view to it becoming an annual competitive event.

Dr Simon Thompson, Psychiatrist at Combat Stress; “This adapted modern pentathlon event works in treating PTSD veterans because it utilises the psychological skills gained through intensive trauma focused cognitive behavioural therapy and the grounding and mood emotional regulation techniques developed in the clinical treatment programmes.

This is the first time that a multi discipline sport has been used as a form of recovery. Competitors will be split into eight teams consisting of: veterans, civilians, clinicians, and an experienced team captain who will not compete - they’re on hand purely to provide tactical advice.

All other team members will pick up points based on their performances, which will be put towards a series of overall team and individual competitions.

To level the playing field, all competitors will be assessed before the event and placed into a series of ability-based groups.

What is PTSD?

Post- traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder caused by stressful, frightening or distressing events. Someone with PTSD of relieves the traumatic event through nightmares and flashbacks, and may experience feelings of guilt, anger and isolation. They may also experience sleeping problems such as insomnia, and find concentrating difficult. These symptoms are often severe and persistent enough to have a significant impact and a person’s day to day life, family relationships, ability to work and interact with others. Left untreated, PTSD destroys people, their lives, their families and their relationships.

How will this event support Combat Stress?

PentUp supports the provision of first class clinical treatment through raising money via Pentathlon events. Each year PentUp makes a grant to partner organisations who provide this treatment and in 2017 our chosen partner will be Combat Stress.