Hi everyone, thanks for taking the time to read my fundraiser.

As part of a team, I will be taking on the Marathon International De Bessans for the Armed Forces Para Snowsports Team, this is a 30km ski marathon in France in January 2025. With all of us completing the full 30km distance.

http://www.marathondebessans.com/

As a beneficiary of the charity I wanted to help raise the profile and funds for the incredible work they do.

http://afpst.co.uk/

This will be a massive challenge for me as a RAF veteran with multiple health conditions and injuries, and will involve me having to train hard for the next few months to be capable of managing this challenge.

This will be with the support of the charity and the team of us that are heading out to take this ski marathon on.

The Armed Forces Para Snowsports Team has transformed my life in ways that it is hard to describe.

After being injured on training with the RAF and being left with permanent nerve damage to my back, right arm and leg and also no longer being able to carry on with my career that I had given up so much to achieve, returning to civilian life without the support of the military family.

For a long time I refused to even acknowledge that I had even been in the military or see myself as a veteran.

I hadn’t realised the devastating effects that this event and the subsequent time had taken on my mental health too, being left with anxiety, depression and complex PTSD, I felt that there was little to carry on for in life, that I had let my family down and was useless. I was later also diagnosed with a lung condition that also affected my ability to do everyday tasks.

I came very close to taking the final step at my lowest point.

The Armed Forces Para Snowsports Team has given me back a sense of belonging, family and worth. The introduction to the sport of Nordic skiing and Biathlon was something that I never knew I would fall in love with (especially having been an avid snowboarder before my accident!)

The opportunity to spend time in the beautiful mountain environment, with supportive coaches, and push my limitations passed anything I could have dreamed of, recovering some of my strength and endurance, was all provided by the AFPST.

Please help me to raise funds for this amazing charity so they can help more veterans like myself and ones that are even more deserving than me.

As an independent service charity, AFPST exist to support the recovery of our wounded, injured and sick military personnel and veterans. Having served their country, it is now up to us to ensure they are not forgotten. AFPST aim to foster a sense of purpose, encourage success and re-build self-confidence using the transformative power of para-snowsports. By motivating, engaging and inspiring our athletes, AFPST can help restore their physical and mental health.

TOGETHER WE CAN…

Break boundaries and show how courage and determination can achieve great things. We do this through an exhilarating and competitive snow sports programme.

TOGETHER WE CAN…

Make a difference. With our dedicated supporters and generous donors, we can pioneer new pathways, develop confidence and form meaningful relationships that help accelerate recovery. This year alone, we will give over 120 athletes the opportunity to develop new skills on the snow. You can read more about our athletes and their uplifting stories here. Without our incredible volunteers, our loyal donors and the continued support of the general public, such opportunities would not exist.

TOGETHER WE CAN…

Make it happen and inspire others to do the same.

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