AS1 Dave Owen, based at RAF Lossiemouth, is running the London Marathon on 21 April to raise funds for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, which helped him when he was going through a difficult time with his mental health.
Dave said: “I ticked all the boxes: middle-aged male who refused to talk! I fell into depression and anxiety, and nothing seemed to help until I reached out to SSAFA. I don’t know where I’d be now if I hadn’t been able to talk to them.”
To thank the charity and help it continue to provide assistance to other people like himself, Dave is running 26.2 miles through London, in boots and carrying a 30kg bergen (military backpack).
Dave needs to raise over £2,000 for the charity, he said: “Any help is much appreciated, even more so in today’s financial climate. It’s not just about the fundraising; I want to crack the stigma surrounding mental health and get people talking. Us military lot are terrible for not talking about what’s going on mentally. I just want to say that, if you are suffering, you need to reach out, and SSAFA is a great place to start, if you are in the military or are a veteran.”
If you want to help Dave reach his fundraising target, donate here.