This year, I’m proud to be running the Great North Run, supported by my unit — 269 (West Riding) Battery, Royal Artillery, part of the Army Reserve.

As someone who served in the Regular Army, I know how much strength and resilience military life demands — both physically and mentally. A few years ago, I suffered a fractured hip during training and spent six months on crutches, followed by an intense rehabilitation programme. At the time, I wasn’t sure I’d ever run again — never mind take on a half marathon.

As the battery have kindly funded my place in the race I have decided to run for Combat Stress, the UK’s leading charity for veterans’ mental health. They support ex-service personnel facing challenges like PTSD, depression, and anxiety. I experienced a presentation from the combat stress team while I was in the regular army and the work they do is really important.

Every donation helps provide therapy, crisis support, and ongoing care to those who’ve served and now need someone in their corner.

Please give what you can — and help support the mental health of those who’ve given so much for others.

More information about COMBAT STRESS: We are Combat Stress. The UK's leading charity for veterans' mental health. For almost a century we have helped former servicemen and women deal with issues like trauma, anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. We are on a mission to raise awareness that invisible injuries can be just as hard to cope with as physical ones. So when a veteran is having a tough time, we're there to help tackle the past and to help them take on the future.