For a week in March 2024, I will be ditching my off piste skis to support the wounded veterans both on and off the slopes. Skiing is an enormously successful way of rebuilding confidence and restoring self-belief.The challenge of skiing down a mountain after a life-changing injury makes other goals feel less daunting. With challenge and friendship, we will attempt to empower them to successfully transition to civilian life.

However, it's hard work! They need help and friendship all the way along this journey, morning and evening, night and day.

The older I get, the more grateful I feel for my physical and mental health. This is my opportunity to try to help these incredible people.

I will match every donation made.

Why SWV is needed

Supporting Wounded Veterans is about helping people regain their independence through skiing. Since 2012, they have helped hundreds of veterans back into meaningful employment or occupation.

Last year, 1,322 UK regular armed forces personnel were medically discharged, representing approximately four per day. For Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force personnel one of the most common causes of medical discharge was mental illness, which has increased since 2015.

For some veterans, the path to independence and employment can be a struggle which can be greatly improved by managing and developing their physical and mental health.

SWV offers veterans with physical or mental injuries or illnesses initial support through two programmes - Sports Habilitation and Pain Management. More on these programmes can be found via the SWV website:: https://www.supportingwoundedveterans.com/our-programmes

Update

Dear wonderful supporters,

It has taken me a few days to gather my thoughts and digest the past week, as I returned from being a ’ski buddy’ for SWV, for which you so kindly sponsored me. I can hand on heart say, it was the most humbling, harrowing, emotional, but overall incredible week I have ever experienced. Rarely do you fundraise for a charity and then get to see, first hand, exactly how it benefits someone, but I had that privilege and I wanted to share my thoughts and experiences with you.

I can assure you that every penny that you donated has helped to truly transform the lives of some seriously injured veterans, and on behalf of these newfound friends and complete heroes, I can’t thank you enough.

If you have time, I wanted you to read what one of the veterans I supported during the week wrote. This is a man who was beaten and abused by his mother as a child, who was homeless from the age of 12-17 when he joined the army from where he was sent to Afghanistan and now suffers the most terrible complex PTSD after a couple of tours there.

“Thank you for another amazing day….

I am a man. A veteran. Moulded into warrior incarnate. I was taught to be a weapon in defense of this realm and protector of its people.. I was fufilled with my lot in life. I had purpose with the brothers and sisters around me.

Then cruelly, the gods took these things away from me and I was that man no more. He was gone and banished, only to be seen in glimpses and flashes. The man in the mirror was someone I didn’t know, recognise nor trust.

Lost, dejected, deflated and broken I was cast out from my brotherhood and cursed to wander angry and bitter, A ball of grief and sadness I subsisted out an existence I had no wish nor inclination to continue.

The passage of time continues on for 4 years and I somehow continue to just barely survive, my head above water, gulping down the dark waters of mental health and floundering in panic with ptsd. The dark depths of depression threaten to swallow me at any moment but for a reason I could not fathom I continued on despite my best efforts to fast or slow, shuffle off this mortal coil.

And then, in the haze of recovery I am here in Switzerland. I am issued skiing equipment and purpose, I am once again surrounded by my people. Those I love, who understand me fundamentally, those I don’t know but trust implicitly with my life.

For the first time my needs are asked of me and they are met. People I don’t know, show me love and kindness that defies the cruel mistress of mental health and I weep and weep tears of joy.. I realise with choked breath, that this is just the beginning. My story isn’t ending, I’m no longer waiting to stop existing, it is the beginning.. I am loved, I matter, I am worthy and I am here.

Thank SWV, buddies, volunteers, staff and all. From my open heart, thank you.”

Best wishes and thank you so much.

Jane Hartley

www.supportingwoundedveterans.com