I've raised £1000 to help Veterans through the PentUp foundation and Combat Stress.
Organised by Stephen Alexander
Story
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.
Running Order
Saturday day (October 14th)
Swim:
120m in a team relay.
Fencing:
3 hit Epee. Fencers will be graded by ability and only fight opponents of the same grade in a poule of 10 competitors .
Riding:
Riders will be graded by ability and points awarded on the basis of the fence height they attempt to jump. Each rider will have a certified 'safe jump height' prior to the event and will not be permitted to jump anything higher. This will range from 70cm to lead rein over a pole on the floor.
Combined Event:
Short run (20 metres); shoot five targets in 50 seconds; 400 metre run; shoot five targets in 50 seconds; 400 metre run; shoot a final five targets in 50 seconds; 400 metre run.
Saturday Evening :
A full military black tie gala for 300 people, with competitor's sponsors, commercial partners, major donors, pentathlon Olympic teams and private supporters.
Run, shoot, swim, fence, show jump... what could possibly go wrong?!
