I am extremely honoured to be joining SWV in the Alps as a 'Ski buddy' to a veteran on their Skihabilitation week in March 2024. In addition to this, I will also be undertaking a ‘Week of Silence’ to raise funds for this amazing life-saving charity!

Each year SWV take 26 veterans to the Alps for a week skiing but it's much more than just a 'holiday'. The veterans’ disabilities range from PTSD to physical and often life altering injuries and the ski week is the start of a year-long rehabilitation programme that helps them regain their confidence, fitness and strength. The end goal being to help the veterans back into employment, training or an occupation. SWV has a 92% success rate of getting veterans back into employment or an occupation.

Many of the veterans are living very isolated lives due to their injuries or circumstances, so while I cannot replicate this in my life (very gratefully), I have decided to get the closest I can by spending a week alone in complete isolation and silence in order to raise awareness of their circumstances and to raise as much money as possible for this incredible cause.

For those of you who know me well, you will know what a huge challenge this will be as I do love to chat! But for 7 days in January 2024, I will not utter a single word (no doubt to my family's huge relief!) or have any communication with anyone.

I would be so grateful for any support you may be able to give towards my Week of Silence and this incredible ski week aimed at helping so many amazing veterans get their lives back on track. All my buddy costs for the trip are self-funded so 100% of your money will go directly to helping these brave men and women, to whom we owe so much.

A little more information on the buddy role:

On the trip Buddies are paired with veterans for the week and their role is to help them on their new journey; to be there as a physical support where necessary; to be there to listen as well as to assist in any way I can to help the veteran get the most out of the week. It is a mentally and physically challenging role that is invaluable.

Here are some of the words of veterans who have been on the ski week and how it has helped them:

“You have allowed me to put some demons to bed and let me achieve a dream I NEVER thought might become a reality…”

2018 Veteran

“I came off these slopes a different person, with a completely different frame of mind towards my own life and future.”

2018 Veteran.

Here are some examples of how your money can help:

£60 could give a veteran an 'Emotional Freedom Technique' (EFT) session, learning coping mechanisms for their anxiety and pain.

£200 could provide three month's access to the Mentoring Programme which includes weekly meetings with a volunteer mentor, who will help a veteran achieve their personal and professional goals. The staff who lead the Mentoring Programme provide admin, ongoing mentor training and support to veterans and mentors.

£1,200 could support a veteran through a Pain Resilience Programme for a year, led by leading Pain Specialist, Dr Dominic Aldington, with veterans providing peer-to-peer support.

£6,200 is the cost of taking one veteran through the ski rehabilitation week and £14,500 for the whole year rehabilitation programme.

Thank you so so much for your support it is hugely appreciated.

Sophie x

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