A team from our Op COURAGE Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service complete gruelling challenge
The head of our Op COURAGE Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service marched 54 miles in less than 24 hours along the Cairngorm Mountains to raise money for a military charity.
David Powell is the Op COURAGE Regional Lead for the East of England. The service has provided care for military veterans since 2017 and Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust is one of the partners who lead the service in a collaborative approach.
He and a team from Op COURAGE took part in The Cateran Yomp, one of Scotland’s toughest endurance challenges on June 3 and raised more than £2000.
Every year, hundreds of people gather in the Scottish wilderness to battle through the foothills of the Cairngorm Mountains, walking continuously for 54, 36 or 22 miles over 24 hours.
It replicates a military long distance training march and involves reaching heights of more than 2,000 metres.
David, who is also our Armed Forces Champion and an Army Cadet Force instructor, started training for the Yomp late last year.
He said: “It was hard work but we did it despite the heat. This year we completed it in a staggering 22 hours and so smashed our previous times by more than two hours so we were really pleased.
“The conditions were pretty harsh with temperatures rising to 20 degree Celsius during the day and elevations of more than 7000 foot across the mountains.
“The team raised more than £2000 which has now taken our total to over £8500 raised for an amazing charity the Army Benevolent Fund (ABF), which is one of the partners who deliver the Op COURAGE service.
“They run our support group and play a major part in providing support for our armed forces veterans in many ways.
“The ABF provide financial support for ex-military personnel who have suffered hardship after leaving the forces, and also fund a myriad of military charities.
“Veterans who receive this help are supported for as long as they need.”
The event raised more than £400,000 with donations still coming in.
David completed the challenge with Justin Hockaday, a senior nurse from Op COURAGE, and Lloyd Wickens, an Army veteran who had previously served with David.
You can still sponsor the team on the Soldier's Charity website.
The Op COURAGE service in the east of England supports veterans in Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire.
You can find out more about the service on the Op COURAGE page.