The 1 Million Mile Project - Save A Warrior UK CIC

Save A Warrior UK invites you to participate in our massive undertaking. 1,000,000 miles is the target. You can run, walk, swim, cycle, hop on one foot or crawl on your hands and knees. You can clock up the miles as an individual, team or as an organisation.

The concept is simple, we ask you to complete a profile on our website, declare the miles you will cover, and then donate the pounds to SAW UK. In doing so, you will be come a 1Million Mile Athlete and earn a space dedicated to your challenge on our website. A small, easy ask with such a ginormous impact. You can fund it yourself OR ask someone to support you in donating to your miles.

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SAW UK's story:

Save A Warrior UK, an organisation inspired and approved by the American non-profit charity Save A Warrior, was founded by former Royal Marine Adam Gornall and RAF Regiment Gunner Tom Burgess. Together, they have launched this initiative in an effort to garner national support for SAW UK. They exist for the soul purpose of Serving our Armed Forces and First Responder Communities. They provide a novel solution to cure PTSD and Suicide.

This awareness initiative invites everyone to participate, emphasising that for every mile covered by the participant, a minimum of one pound will be donated via GoFundMe.

The 1 Million Miles Project is not just a fundraising endeavour; it's a call to foster belonging, contribution, and meaningful change. By encouraging individuals from all walks of life to participate, Save A Warrior UK aims to create a community united in the shared goal of supporting those needing mental wellness resources.

This initiative aligns with Save A Warrior UK's broader mission to address mental health challenges among veterans and first responders. The organisation, born out of the success of Save A Warrior in the USA, is committed to creating a zero-suicide community. The transformative three-day residential program and the subsequent 500-day, peer-led community support program are integral to this comprehensive strategy.

Show your support, move a mile and donate a pound to save a life.

A massive thank you from all of us here at SAVE A WARRIOR UK CIC

Love

SAW UK

Who we are:

Save A Warrior UK CIC is a suicide prevention Community Interest Company that serves those who have served (We are registering for our Charitable status). We are warriors who have returned to heal those on a collision course with the world. We work in the community, and our mission is to heal those who are desperately lonely and are drifting off course towards suicide.

Where did it come from?

The United States is the ancestral home of the work. Save A Warrior was founded over 12 years ago by Jake Clark. He claims to have the cure for suicide, and I, for one, believe him.

Please click to watch an interview with Jake Clark. Founder of Save A Warrior.

Personal Experience:

I have witnessed and experienced first-hand the healing power of Save A Warrior. In its 12 years of existence, SAW has saved over 2300 lives. These men and women had identified areas of their lives that weren't working and were on a course to take their own lives.

We call this desperate loneliness.

The Band of Light:

There is something we are taught when we are growing up about eye contact. Holding eye contact when speaking to people, especially elders, and being able to hold a gaze to show you are engaged, open and listening. But how often do you "catch yourself" looking away when telling a story about something tough, a hard time in life, or something tarnished with a lie or denial.

The truth is that the eyes are where the love and the support are. The biggest thing I miss about my time at SAW in July 2023 was getting on the Band-of-Light with my brothers. Looking these warriors dead in the eye and witnessing their trauma and story one last time. Unflinching and unapologetically. Being there, present and witnessing the display of raw emotion. Stuff that we would have taken to the grave.

The Need For Save A Warrior UK:

I have been asked recently, "Why another Veterans Charity/service?" Hearing those words from that mouth made me retract and cringe inside. They landed like an air-burst nuke going off right in front of me. I delivered a dignified response. I should have said, "Because the current system is not fit for purpose and Because One is Too Many." Then stood up and left. Because that person, no matter what I said, wasn't open to the possibility that change is needed.

We will be stepping into an already crowded space. This will be the hardest thing I have done in my entire life. I don't yet fully appreciate the gravity of the challenges ahead. But I know what lies ahead of me in "witnessing breakthroughs" and witnessing men and women access their grief safely and without judgment for the first time.

I don't get mine until you get yours:

I consider myself healed and complete. It's taken me nearly 25 years to get here. I have no blame for anyone and hold no ill will or feelings. I used to hold a venomous and dangerous monster at bay, sometimes daily. One who would run rackets and duck and dodge to evade detection or capture. There is one last thing I need to do, however. In order to be truly healed and live a pure, happy, whole life. I need to help others get theirs. My purpose is to facilitate the delivery of SAW here in the UK. Because until that day comes, I am still holding on and doing the work to get through the day.

Is this "landing" with you?

Will you help us to save the lives of Veterans, Police, Fire Service and Paramedics? There are many ways in which you can do this:

The cost of a human life.

It costs £2500 to save a human life through the Save A Warrior UK CIC program. I want you to know where your £1 coin is going. It's not getting absorbed into an organisation to pay for "this and that" connection or underhanded deals for partnerships.

It's going towards the provision of a single seat. Ten seats, to be exact.

Per Applicant:

£2000 for the 3-day Residential Retreat

£500 for the 500-day community-led support group.

The applicant enters the program on a rostering call. Facilitated by the SAW Rostering Team. They are loaded onto the next available cohort, provided they are honest, open, willing and chemically sober. The applicant only pays for their journey to and from Warrior Village. Their skin in the game!

Upon arrival, they are greeted with open arms and asked to be open to the possibility of change.

That's as far as I can go with telling you what happens. 72 hours later - After a transformative experience, they integrate back into their world with a distinction from the story and what happened.

Thank you to our supporters:

We have already made so many new friendships and built strong alliances with like-minded people and organisations. We are looking for partnerships and sponsorship to fund the future.

Give generously, and don't be anonymous in your donation. Please leave your details so that we can personally thank you.

Thank you

The SAW UK Team