On Saturday 3rd June 2017 my life and career changed in a way I could never have prepared for.

While on a foot patrol with my colleague, we stepped into a situation that I can hardly find the right words to explain as the atrocities of the London Bridge and Borough Market attack began to unfold.

Although I didn’t sustain the physical injuries or worse that so many others unfortunately did, the events have no doubt left their mark.

I know for certain that many of my colleagues and fellow members of the blue light family that responded to calls for assistance have been affected, but while this event was above and beyond the norm, emergency services personnel are faced with traumatic events on a daily basis all over the country. The atrocities at Grenfell and the terror attacks in London and Manchester in 2017 only serve to highlight this.

We’re only human, but yet we all come back in day after day to do it all again never knowing what’s around the corner.

Clearly though there’s only so much a person can take, and it seems that only recently attention has really been paid to mental health and wellbeing. No matter how big or small, things will always leave a mark.

So where am I going with this? Well I have been fortunate enough to secure a spot In the 2019 London Marathon and knew from the start that I wanted to run for someone that really meant something to me and to hopefully make a difference to people.

And with that in mind I have decided to run for an organisation called PTSD999.

They are the only organisation in the UK that supports all members of the emergency services, both serving and retired, voluntary, family and friends. A majority of their trustees, administrators and most importantly doctors and counselling staff have served in the Emergency Services and/or Military and suffered PTSD, or have close ties with someone who has.

PTSD999 is completely independent and funded by private donations and products that they deliver and I’m determined to raise money and awareness of their cause with a view to helping members of the blue light family.

I know firsthand how important this organisation is and I really hope Im able to help them like they help many others.