Hello, and thanks for taking a look at my JustGiving page. 

I have signed up as a Buddy for the 2016 Skiing with Heroes trip and will be spending a week helping injured veterans to learn to ski and snowboard. 

Skiing with Hereos is not about having a ski holiday. It's about helping wounded veterans build confidence and finding a way to lead a full civilian life.  

To quote one of the founders of this charity, "We're not just about skiing, this is about another journey all together".

Many of you will know the reasons I have chosen to do this; losing my identical twin brother, Bobby, in Afghanistan in April 2013. The two of us grew up skiing together and spent endless days in the mountains. He loved to ski, and became an instructor in Whistler during the 2010/11 season. Since losing him, I have used skiing as a means of levelling myself in turbulent times. I love being in the mountains and on a first hand basis, I can attest to the healing that skiing can do. I recognise the benefit that time spent doing sport in that environment can have on physical and mental wellbeing. 

Paralympic sport is a proven, potent medium for confidence building, and skiing levels the odds between the 'able' and 'disabled' as few sports can. Physically, it helps rebuild atrophied core muscles, but as a sport involving adrenaline, speed and danger, it also boosts self-esteem. And that is a key factor when you are trying to overcome the cycle of despair that can come with combat stress.

The fundraising for this trip isn't just about the time spent skiing. Upon returning to the U.K, the veterans are mentored for a year to aide their employment and integration into civilian life.

Between now and February 27th I will be doing a number of fundraising events to help reach my £1500 goal. Keep checking in with this page to see what they are...

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