Hello

My name is Steve I am a 32-year-old, Armed Forces, Afghanistan veteran and a full time single parent living in Peterborough. In 2016 I took full custody of my children after a prolonged and eventful battle lasting almost 18 months. I struggled adapting to the change and eventually my work life suffered. I felt I had no choice but to take some time out as my children needed me to be there for them more than I could when I was working. With losing my job I eventually ran up rent arrears which resulted in us losing our home.

Between February and August 2017 we moved from home to a hotel room, then to a Hostel before moving on to emergency accommodation in St Micheals Gate. Finally ending up where we are now. Sometime during all these moves (April 20th) I was told by Combat Stress that I suffered PTSD as a direct result of Afghanistan. This explained why I wasn't sleeping, eating and felt like everyone wanted to kill me or take my children.

We are in a far better situation now, we are settled in a lovely little flat and the kids are doing really well at school. After taking part in a 4 day course with the Warrior Programme I feel like I have my life back. During my darkest hours two Charities helped me. I would go as far to say that they saved my life. With constant help advice and support.

This is one of the reasons I have decided that I want to give something back to both charities and another one I am yet to decide on (Child Protection) whilst also teaching my children that anything and everything is possible no matter how many obstacles and diversions get in your way. I want them to know that excuses are exactly that, just excuses.

In 2019 I will be climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa for these three charities but before I can do that I need to raise a minimum donation of £4200 (50% goes to Charity 50% goes towards costs) whilst also self funding £650 for the trip This is where I need your help. I will be setting myself mini challenges along the way in an effort to raise this money.

There is too any thousands of families who have a brother, sister mum dad aunt or uncle suffering from the affects of a traumatic time in their lives that they experienced keeping us safe.

Think about the children these people have, growing up with a parent who is suffering the terrible flashbacks or the immense anger sorrow and frustrations that they can not let go off

The extended families who worry every single day because they know it is a real possibility that their loved one will be the next armed forces veteran who commits suicide *every 2 weeks in the uk*

My children will not have their dad with them at the dinner table this Christmas day but they are the lucky ones because their dad (ME) will be climbing Mount Snowdon whilst they tuck into Christmas dinner with their mum. 2 Years ago this might have been their only choice as I too often found myself withing inches of adding to that terrible statistic mentioned above.

With Thanks to THE WARRIOR PROGRAMME and Oppo2Oppo I managed to not only get my life back I managed to turn it around.

Please please please share this post (They say a share is worth £10 to my cause) The money raised from climbing Snowdon on Christmas day will be going towards my Charity climb up Kilimanjaro which itself is to support these two great charities

Thank you so much for reading this. If you can't donate please please please share this on your Facebook pages, Twitter etc so as many people as possible can see it.

If you want to know more about me or my story please feel free to visit my Daddystinks Blog

or add me on twitter @daddystinks