The PentUp Foundation has been set up to organise and run a Modern Pentathlon event at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst on 14 October 2017, with a view to it becoming an annual competitive event.

The foundation is raising 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.

Over 75,000 veterans from armed conflicts of the last 25 years are afflicted by trauma and in 2015/16 Combat Stress' 24 hour phone line was contacted 9,500 times with 2,500 referrals for therapy. The scale of suffering is unprecedented and growing with over 200 traumatised ex-service personnel a month coming forward to ask for help.

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.

In order to continue this valuable work I need you support and sponsorship to raise funds both for clinical PTSD treatment as well as the post-treatment recovery provided by PentUp. This year, out clinical treatment partner will be Combat Stress, the leading UK provider of specialist clinical support to veterans with PTSD. All monies raised this year will be shared between the PentUp Foundation and Combat Stress.

Modern Pentathlon is an event conceived by Baron De Coubertin (founder of the modern Olympic movement) as the ultimate Olympic sport. It comprises the five disciplines: running, swimming, shooting, fencing and horse-riding (showjumping), and captures the struggles and challenges of a fictitious messenger delivering an important message across hostile territory!

I will be competing as part of a team alongside friends, clinicians and military veterans as we all come together to test ourselves in the five disciplines and score points towards team and individual glory.!

So - am I completely crazy? Yes, probably! I've done a reasonable amount of fencing before. Running, swimming and shooting aren't completely unknown, but horse-riding is a bit of a stretch - while not a complete beginner the last time I did any real riding was in my teens. I think to be honest I'm basically going for "survival" for the competition, and I hope my participation will encourage you all to give generously.

Q&A

What is the PentUp Foundation?

The PentUp Foundation is an organisation devoted to promoting the treatment and recovery of military veterans who are suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PentUp does this in 2 ways:

1) Post clinical recovery is supported by taking part in regular weekly training sessions and completing the PentUp training programme,

2) Funding specialist clinical treatment through partner organisations. In 2017 our partner organisation is Combat Stress, and in future years we may choose to support other similar organisation providing first class clinical treatment for PTSD.

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.

What is Crowd-Funding?

Crowd funding is a means of raising money via a web donations page for organisations who do good work, but are not registered as charities. PentUp is a Community Interest Company, registered with Companies House, and our details can be reviewed on their website - https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/10829203