My name is  Lucas 'Faz' Farrell, I am currently the RQMS in 1 Rifles and I run Ultra Marathons for my own mental health fitness. The AARP is uniquely designed to intervene during a mental health crisis and guide an individual through their journey of recovery. Billy Hughes is assisting me in trying to raise the much needed funds which I explain below.  Billy is a fellow Brother Rifleman from one of the Rifles antecedent regiments with 25yrs infantry service; the old and bold working with the current Riflemen.

Sadly some Rifleman have taken their own lives and left their families in serious mental health pain, these families desperately need support and counselling.  A person has come forward who runs a boarding house in Portugal and has offered to supply transfers to and from the airport, accommodate and feed the family members free of charge.  Currently we have 2 families  who are in crisis that desperately require counselling services but as we all know the NHS have a long waiting list.    AARP would like to offer  this service initially to these 2 families, which is why we need to facilitate these costs of £4,500.  In running this Ultra Marathon the physical and mental pain I go through, is no comparison to what these families are experiencing 24 hours a day; whether they're asleep or awake.  I believe we owe it to the families; Mum, Dad, Brother or Sister support and counselling.  They gave their Son who became a 'Fellow Brother Rifleman' to me and others, even though they may have left the army they remain a Brother Rifleman and their family part of our 'Regimental Family'.

Please Please donate what you can, our aim is simply to help other families who so desperately need support and respite from their painful loss.  

AARP has over 160 volunteers supporting more than 60 rifleman in need, the RIFLES initiative is the first of its kind. We have trained over 50 volunteers, awarding them all a level 3 MH first aid qualification worth five hundred pounds. It is undisputable that we are saving lives. To learn more please call Lt Col (Rtd) Baz Melia 07759848199