Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

My journey started in 2011 when i was registered blind severely visually impaired. This brought an end to my military career of 20 years.

I spiralled out of control with depression, drinking heavily and pushing my wife and kids away, i felt that i had let them down, i was broken and of no use, a hinderance if you like. We lived in a service house so no home, no income, young family with 4 kids and what seemed no prospects all by the time i was 33 years old. I'm happy to say that we got through that period together and still going strong.

I was sent to St Dunstan's now Blind veterans UK October 2011, at first i rejected the help that they were about to support me with, a selfish act on my behalf not thinking about my family. But i learnt how to embrace the support and have invested a lot of me back into the charity since, my family too even reaching out to friends that have embraced the charities work. I now support other members in their journey.

Fast ward to 2025 i had a change in personal circumstance which had an impact on our lives yet again. As things changed i could feel aspects of 2011 starting to creep into my daily routine and its downward spiral, but not this time as i slowly got a grip of it, before it overtook..

Where i had invested a lot of time with Blind veterans and them me i was able to see this and change what potentially could happen and quickly. I throw myself back into the charity rediscovering my confidence and self worth.

I was always into running and walking completing 10 London marathons, various others and walking 5 different 100kms so i needed 2026 to be special. So i thought up this personal challenge to run/walk 200 miles a month a grand total of 2400 miles for the year.

January has past and i can see that it is possible to now complete what seemed impossible at the start of the new year. But as you can see from the profile picture I've completed month 1.

This is my challenge, please give what you can every little means a great deal to a blind veteran, Thank you

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