Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Where to start…..

My eldest daughter Millie ran the Bespak GEAR 10km last year in Kings Lynn with two metal rods and twenty two screws in her back. I was cheering her in at the end, she inspired me to enter this year. Unfortunately I won’t be running it, my running days are a thing of the past. I will be walking it and hoping to raise money for 8:56 Foundation

I’m ex RAF and was medically discharged in 2003 due to a back injury. I have now got Degenerative Disc Disease, osteoarthritis in my spine & hips and scoliosis. I’m in pain 24hrs a day and use a stick to walk. This has steadily got worse over the years.

Things steadily got on top of me and on 4th May 2010 I attempted suicide. A dog walker found me and being found ultimately saved my life. After a stay in hospital I wasn’t offered any help from the NHS for my mental health. My wife, Daughters and close friends got me back on my feet, but I had never addressed my mental health. The 8:56 Foundation have set me up with a Therapist and they’re there for men like me whenever we need them. It’s taken me 15 years to seek help, I don’t want another person to not have help. So, I’m walking this 10km and pushing through the pain not just for myself and to raise money for the work they do, but to hopefully raise awareness that you can get through life beyond an attempted suicide.

This race falls on Sunday 4th May, this day will now mean something else to me. Training has started, I need to speed up or I won’t finish until 8th May the way I’m going.

Millie wanted to beat her time this year but in a show of true support, she’s going to walk with me. This is a joint fundraiser, any donation no matter how small is gratefully received.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and thank you, Helen, Millie and Phoebe, I love you millions xxx