As a veteran, I’ve seen firsthand the incredible strength, resilience, and grit that service life builds into you. I’ve also seen the unseen battles many of us continue to fight long after we hang up the uniform. Mental health struggles, trauma, and the constant pressure to “crack on” can take a heavy toll.
That’s why, in 2026, I’m committing myself to a challenge that is deeply personal. I will run or hike 365 kilometres or more to raise £100,000 for Combat Stress, the UK’s leading charity for veterans dealing with PTSD and mental health challenges. This isn’t just a fitness challenge. It’s a mission fuelled by lived experience, purpose, and the belief that every veteran deserves the care, support, and follow-up treatment they need.
Why Combat Stress?
Combat Stress has been supporting veterans for over a century, providing specialist treatment for PTSD, anxiety, depression, and trauma-related conditions. They step in where many systems fall short, offering therapy, outreach, clinical support, and a lifeline for those who often feel forgotten. As someone who served in the Royal Navy and is now pursuing a role in the Royal Marine Reserves, I’ve spent years surrounded by servicemen and women who have sacrificed more than most people will ever understand. Some bear physical scars.
Many carry the invisible ones.
I’ve chosen to support Combat Stress because I believe veteran mental health must be
a priority in this country. Not tomorrow, not “when funding allows,” but now.
Why This Challenge Matters to Me
Running or hiking one kilometre for every day of the year represents the daily battle many veterans face. You can’t see PTSD in the mirror. You can’t simply patch it up and carry on. It’s a marathon with no finish line.
My 365km challenge is a way to honour that fight, raise awareness, and create a tangible impact that funds real treatment for real people who need it. I am dedicating 2026 to this mission because change doesn’t happen through talk alone. It happens through action, commitment, and showing up even when it’s uncomfortable. Especially when it’s uncomfortable.
Putting Veteran Mental Health at the Top of the Agenda
We are long overdue for a national shift in how we support those who have served. Veterans shouldn’t have to wait months for therapy. They shouldn’t have to suffer in silence. They shouldn’t feel like they’re on their own after leaving military life behind.
My goal with this challenge isn’t just to raise money. It’s to raise awareness, spark conversation, and keep veteran mental health and follow-up care in the spotlight where it belongs. I want to see a future where no veteran slips through the cracks, where support is proactive, accessible, and effective. I’m committed to playing my part in making that happen.
A Journey of Purpose
This challenge also ties into my personal journey with Nomad Tactical Group. Through my brand, I already donate 5 percent of annual profits to Combat Stress, and this challenge is the next step in expanding that commitment. My aim is to build a community and company that not only embraces the military ethos but actively gives back to those who served. 2026 will be a year of purpose, endurance, and service. I’m ready to give everything I have to raise this £100,000 and push veterans’ mental health to the forefront of the national conversation.
Veterans deserve more than gratitude. We deserve action, support, and a future where no one fights alone.