A DALE-BORN veterans charity has served up coffee in support of a 1,000 mile cycle ride to raise awareness about post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among former soldiers.
Three veterans, who are making a meandering tour from Edinburgh to Lincoln, stopped in at Sporting Force, in Newton Aycliffe, on the third day of their 80 day journey. Sporting Force was started three years ago by Butterknowle veteran Tommy Lowther. The charity offers help, training and advice to veterans and helps get them work with professional sports organisations and clubs.
The cyclists, Andy Price, Rob Dennison and Gav Corlos, were also treated to bacon and sausage butties when they arrived on Wednesday, June 27 as part of their Around the Country in 80 Coffees campaign, during which they are visiting hubs for veterans.
Mr Lowther said: “It's incredible. The concept of going round the country – it shows how many support hubs there are around the country [for veterans].
“It is fantastic. It is phenomenal what they are doing. It is an honour for them to pick us and to want to come here.”
The cyclists, each of whom has endured their own battle with PTSD, also aim to raise £18,000 for veterans’ charities while on tour.
Mr Price said: “I have mental health problems myself. I was suicidal about a year ago. I made a plan to kill myself. I was going overseas, away from my family, to kill myself. Fortunately my family got wind of it and stopped me.
“It is self-therapeutic to talk about it. There is no shame in speaking about it.”
Mr Price recently established Weymouth Veterans Hub after realising the extent of the problem.
He said: “In one week I had three veterans kill themselves. It is an ongoing battle.”
A big part of the Around the Country in 80 Coffees tour is to encourage other veterans to speak about their issues, Mr Dennison said. He added that he came up with the idea of cycling to various veterans centres in the country for a cup of coffee because people are more likely to talk about their problems when they are “sharing a brew”.
Mr Dennison, who owns his own coffee company called 50cal Coffee, said the tour would end at the National Memorial Arboretum, in Lincoln, on July 15.
Mr Corlos said the ride was particularly tough because they have little cycling experience. He said: “This is a massive challenge and the pain just seems to transfer around the body.”
Mr Price added: “It is tiring and painful. I am hurting in places I didn’t know could hurt.”
Cash raised through the journey will be shared between Who Dares Cares, Tommy Atkins Centre and Weymouth Veterans Hub.
For more information visit aroundthecountryin80coffees.com.
