Military veterans walk 20 miles for Combat Stress

Former military veterans walked from Sowerby Bridge to Rochdale to raise money for Combat Stress, the veterans’ mental health support charity

A group of military veterans have raised around £1,800 for the Combat Stress charity after walking a gruelling 20 miles from Sowerby Bridge to Rochdale on Sunday 18 August.

Wayne Traynor, Nathan Sweeney, Martin Stapleton, Richard Worswick, Mick Stapleton, Kevin Hughes, Richard Higgins, Peter Clare, John Mills, Terence Loveridge, Sharon Stapleton, Andy Knight, all of Rochdale, and Jon Petrice, of Coventry, completed the walk in just over six hours for the veterans’ mental health support charity.

Combat Stress has helped former servicemen and women with mental health problems such as anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) since 1919.

Wayne said: “Nathan and I wanted to do something for PTSD, as not everyone gets the support they need.

“With this in mind, we chose to raise money for Combat Stress, and raise awareness of the condition, because it is a lot more common these days.

“The help and support individuals have shown and given us has been nothing short of brilliant.

“The march was challenging and at a good pace, even helping individuals from the public along the way as well as the odd obstacle. Rochdale is amazing when we pull together.

“As for the veterans who joined the team and made it what it is, thank you. This is the start of something brilliant; PTSD is not going away and neither are we.

“We are going to do another event early next year and would like other veterans to join us in this growing family of support.”

The online page will stay live until the end of August for anyone wishing to donate:

• www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ptsdcombatstress