Story
What does it mean to be self-resilient?
Resilience is the ability to withstand adversity and bounce back from difficult life events. Being resilient does not mean a person doesn't experience stress, emotional upheaval, and suffering. Resilience involves the ability to work through emotional pain and suffering. My good friend James Elliott wrote a book on this called, Think Yourself Resilient: Harness Your Emotions, Build Your Confidence, Transform Your Life.” James’s theory is, to work the 5 Five Pillars of Mental Resilience: confidence, emotional intelligence, physical health, goals, and relationships.
I am leaving the Army after 23 years’ service; it is a scary feeling not knowing what life is going to be like without the lifeline I have had for the past 23 years. Looking back at my career in the Army and life events, it has sometimes had a negative effect on my mental health and wellbeing, which I am more than happy to admit and talk about. Having the ability to work through emotional pain and suffering and raising funds for the charities close to me, is going to be the driving force I need to complete my, (up to 5000-mile) cycle journey around the UK mainland.
The 5 charities I am fund raising for all have a personal meaning and connection to me. They all have similar goals, wanting to help people to withstand adversity and bounce back from difficult life events.
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FND HOPE , Functional neurologic disorder (FND) is one of the many disabilities my daughter Charlie battles with on a day-to-day basis and the symptoms vary quite intensely. Not many people know about this condition, so I feel it is super important to raise money to enable charities to raise more awareness to find coping mechanisms and treatments for those suffering with the disability. FND Hope are a force for change, uniting the FND community in the pursuit of empowering and improving the health and of those diagnosed with FND or battling medical uncertainty.
Mermaids , My transgender daughter is an inspiration to me with the confidence she demonstrates at such a young age to be who she wants to be. She has shown remarkable resilience to be herself, despite a world that fears difference rather than supports inclusivity, enabling young people to be themselves and thrive. I would like to support “Mermaids” a charity supporting transgender, nonbinary and gender-diverse children, young people, and their families.
SSAFA , This amazing charity helped my disabled daughter in her hour of need, they bought her a state-of-the-art wheelchair to be able to try blend in with her peers and they also helped us with adaptions to our home to enable Charlie to be as independent as possible. SSAFA, helps the armed forces community in several ways, though focus, providing direct support to individuals in need of physical or emotional care. It is committed to helping veterans and military families with the issues and concerns that surround a physical disability, whether a result of combat, accident, or birth. Like many others including myself due to leave the forces, SSAFA is committed to helping our brave men and women overcome these problems and rebuild their lives. Many problems only become apparent when an individual has to leave their life in the Forces.
Pilgrim Bandits (‘Always a Little Further’) , I have many Friends that are injured, physically and mentally. They are resilient and continue to define the odds, living the best life they can. Utilising their experiences to inspire and encourage young people and children. Pilgrim Bandits, ‘Always a Little Further’, don’t do sympathy, but offer the rewards of belonging to a team, encouragement, belief, and the power of humour over pain.
Wolfpackpilgrimage , My good friend Andy is dedicating his crucial time to decompress for self-recovery and hopes to use his journeys to inspire others to seek help and connect with supportive communities. Wolfpackpilgrimage, inspired by personal struggles with PTSD, a mental health condition that affects many individuals, especially those who have served in the military.
My Story
I joined the Army at the age 17 and spent over two decades in the UK's Elite Airborne Forces with the 7th Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery, 14 Regiment Royal Artillery and the University Officers Training Corps. I deployed on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan which were very demanding and trained in many different countries around the world. Leaving the Army after 23 years is becoming more and more difficult the closer the end date gets. I have had a busy career which I have loved, and as much I hate to admit and confront it, I have now moved on to another fight, battling with my mental health and well-being. Struggling and lack of recognition for the need of help has had a detrimental effect on my own wellbeing and in some cases, on the people I care for.
I would like to raise £25,000 to support and split between 5 Charities. FND, Mermaids, SSAFA, Pilgrim Bandits and wolfpackpilgrimage.
Charities
Charity 1 – FND Hope
FND Hope UK is part of the first and only global patient-led charity for people with Functional Neurological Disorder. Originating as a grassroots campaign, it uncovers the hidden world of FND and empowers those affected to live their best possible life We are a force for change, uniting the FND community in the pursuit of empowering and improving the health and of those diagnosed with FND or battling medical uncertainty:
• Empowering individuals to advocate for themselves
• Growing a supportive patient network
• Improve understanding through education
• Cultivating and pioneering best practices for ethical patient-centred care
• Build an environment of collaboration and communication
• Accelerating and support science-based research
• Fostering receptively to new discoveries
• Operate with integrity and transparency
Charity 2 – Mermaids
Mermaids supports transgender, nonbinary and gender-diverse children and young people until their 20th birthday, as well as their families and professionals involved in their care.
Transgender, non-binary and gender-diverse children and teens need support and understanding, as well as the freedom to explore their gender identity. Whatever the outcome, Mermaids is committed to helping families navigate the challenges they may face
Our support…
• Reduces isolation and loneliness for transgender, nonbinary and gender-diverse children, young people, and their families.
• Provides families and young people with the tools they need to negotiate education and health services.
• Helps young people to cope better with mental and emotional distress and equips their parents with what they need to offer individual support.
• Improves the self-esteem and social skills of children and young people.
• Improves awareness, understanding and practices of teachers, GP’s, CAMHS, Social Services
Charity 3 – SSAFA
SSAFA helps the armed forces community in several ways, though our focus is on providing direct support to individuals in need of physical or emotional care.
Addiction, relationship breakdown, debt, homelessness, post-traumatic stress, depression, and disability are all issues that can affect our members of our Armed Forces community. Many of these problems only become apparent when an individual has to leave their life in the Forces and join ‘Civvy Street’. SSAFA is committed to helping our brave men and women overcome these problems and rebuild their lives.
Charity 4 – Pilgrim Bandits
‘Always a Little Further’
Pilgrim Bandits Charity was established in 2007 with the help of Special Force Members and registered as a charity in 2010, with the sole aim to help and inspire injured personnel to live life to the full
The mantra ‘Always a Little Further’ is core to the charity’s attitude, whether working with injured men and women from the Military or Emergency Services directly or by utilising their experiences to inspire and encourage young people and children. Pilgrim Bandits don’t do sympathy, but offer the rewards of belonging to a team, encouragement, belief, and the power of humour over pain.
Bandits’ primary aim is to help those in need directly, with no compromise. Soon, those who needed help become those that give it. By pushing injured men and women into physically and mentally demanding situations that they would not have dreamed possible; kayaking extraordinary distances, jumping from aircraft, running races, trekking across inhospitable terrain, self-confidence is restored, and self-belief instilled – Always a Little Further. Pilgrim Bandits pushes those that have already endured so much to go beyond endurance – to embrace life again and in so doing inspire others
Charity 5 – wolfpackpilgrimage
Andy Dawling, the elite forces veteran and former rugby pro walking miles for charity.
Andy is raising money to be shared between three charities close to his heart – The SAS Regimental Association, Restart, the official charity of The Rugby Players Association and the Welsh Rugby Charitable Trust. And he’s well on the way to meeting that target
Andy’s journey is inspired by his personal struggles with PTSD, a mental health condition that affects many individuals, especially those who have served in the military. He hopes to use his journey to inspire others to seek help and connect with supportive communities.
Our Aims
• Dedicating crucial time to decompress for self-recovery.
• Connecting people with communities and sources of help in compassionate environments to help build positive futures.
• Sharing coping mechanisms/skills, and implementing the same, to enable us to live a more meaningful life.
• Adding value to the lives of others along the way.
• Raise funds for selected charity projects pertinent to the mission, through a transparent process.
