Fight Through - Winter Edition 2015/16 by Education for the Military Ltd

FIGHT THROUGH WINTER EDITION 2015/16

www.educationforthemilitaryfamily.org.uk @Fighthroughmag

JASON WILKES

CRICKET/PTSD

I want people to think, ‘If Jason can do it, so can I’

TRUE HEROES RACING

KEEPING BRITISH FORCES REHAB...ON TRACK

GETTING MOBILE WITH MOTABILITY HEARING LOSS

LUKE SMITH’S STORY

MURRAY HAMBRO

DOUBLE AMPUTEE MOTORCYCLE RIDER FOR TRUE HEROES RACING

S o l i c i t o r s

L i m i t e d

The new BMW 3 Series

The Ultimate Driving Machine

THE NEW BMW 335d xDRIVE M SPORT SALOON MONTHLY RENTALS FROM £315 (Plus initial rental*)

With outstanding road-holding and a new generation of TwinPower Turbo engines for increased power and lower fuel consumption, the latest BMW 3 Series xDrive Saloon is a new vision of driving exhilaration. For more information and to book a test drive†, please call 020 7514 8602 or visit www.bmwukmilitary.co.uk

SEARCH: BMW UK MILITARY. Official fuel economy figures for the new BMW 335d xDrive M Sport Saloon: Urban 43.5mpg (6.5l/100km). Extra Urban 57.6mpg (4.9l/100km). Combined 51.4mpg (5.5l/100km). CO2 emissions 145g/km. Figures may vary depending on driving style and conditions. BMW Group ISSD Ltd is a credit broker. *Initial rental £1,000. Price shown is for a 12 month ISSD BMW Contract Hire agreement for a BMW 335d xDrive M Sport Saloon with optional metallic paint, with a contract mileage of 12,000 miles and excess mileage charge of 16.74p per mile. Applies for new vehicles ordered between 1 October and 31 December 2015 and registered by 31 March 2016 (subject to availability). Retail customers only. At the end of your agreement you must return the vehicle. Excess mileage, vehicle condition and other charges may be payable. Hire available subject to status to UK residents aged 18 or over. Guarantees and indemnities may be required. Terms and conditions apply. Offer may be varied, withdrawn or extended at any time. Hire provided by BMW Financial Services (GB) Limited, Summit ONE, Summit Avenue, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 0FB. Park Lane Limited, trading as BMW Group ISSD, commonly introduce customers to a selected panel of lenders including BMW Financial Services. We may receive commission or other benefits for introducing you to such lenders. This introduction does not amount to independent financial advice. †Test drive subject to applicant status and availability.

CONTENTS

Contents NEWS:

06 > BLESMA

FIGHT THROUGH

M A G

Verdi Studios host Injured Veterans for Photography Masterclass

10 > WWTW

Cumbrian Challenge 2016

FEATURES:

14 > TRUE HEROES RACING

Keeping British Forces Rehab...On Track

16 > MURRAY HAMBRO

Double Amputee Motorcyle Rider for True Heroes Racing

21 > CYCLING

Simon Taylor - Help for Heroes

30 > PTSD - 101

Q & A, By Simon Brodie (Circle of Trust) + Jason Wilkes (Cricket/PTSD)

36 > HOUSING

Homes fit for Heroes

39 > HEARING LOSS

Tinnitus Awareness Week 2016 / Hearing Loss in the Armed Forces

SPECIAL THANKS TO: True Heroes Racing, Murray Hambro, Adam Francis, Luke Smith, Corie Mapp, Help for Heroes, Volvo, Get Cycling, Karma Mobility, Jason Wilkes, Redrow Homes, WWTW, SSAFA, Blesma, Fish Insurance, Pace Rehabilitation, ABF, Hilary Meredith Solicitors, Smile Smart Technology, Change Step, Ottobock, Bethesda, Naughty Dog, Simon Brodie, Felix Fund, Motability, The Tinnitus Clinic & all advertisers.

46 > LAW

IMAGES BY: Professional-Images, (Front Cover) True Heroes Racing, Murray Hambro & thanks to all other contributors.

52 > TRAVEL

PUBLISHED BY: © Education for the Military Ltd

42 > MOTABILITY

Getting Mobile with Motability

Battle Scarred: Families & Relationships in the Armed Forces International Travel - A Quick Guide

54 > GAME REVIEW

Fallout 4 (P54) / Until Dawn & AC Syndicate (P55) / Unchartered (P56)

CONTACT US: ADDRESS: Education for the Military Ltd, Arrow Business Centre, 14 Foyle Street, Sunderland, SR1 1LE TELEPHONE: 0191 691 1958 EDITOR: Joanne Nattress: joanne@educationforthemilitaryfamily.org.uk ADVERTISING: Kris Bhudoye: kris@educationforthemilitaryfamily.org.uk DESIGN: CS Design - chris@educationforthemilitaryfamily.org.uk © Education for the Military Ltd 2016. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or used in any way without written permission from the publisher. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher and although every effort has been made to ensure that the information is accurate, the publishers take no responsibility for errors and omissions. No responsibility can be accepted by the publisher for any claims made by the advertisers in this publication.

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Kenevo

Reclaim your sense of security The Kenevo is the world’s first technologically advanced prosthetic knee designed specifically for people with lower mobility levels who encounter problems walking in their daily life.

Containing state-of-the-art technology, the new revolutionary knee allows wearers to feel confident and secure with every step. Previously only reserved for the most active amputees, this ‘micro-processor knee’ technology will bring new access to the thousands of amputees who are limited in their mobility.

Ottobock · 0845 600 7664 · www.ottobock.co.uk

NEWS: BLESMA

> PICTURED: (L-R) Kirsty Verdi, Andy Mudd, Victoria Joelle

Verdi Studios host injured veterans for photography masterclass Blesma Members from all over the country have enjoyed an opportunity to practice their photography skills in a professional setting, with professional photographers to guide them.

erdi Studios on the High Road in Chadwell Heath opened their doors to the charity on Friday 8th and Tuesday 12th for two day-long Workshops in their fully equipped and accessible studios at absolutely no cost. Members were treated to expert advice and tuition from Studio Manager Kirsty Verdi, the third generation of the family to run the business. The Workshops were put on when Support Officer for Prosthetics Brian Chenier, who works across the road from Verdi at Blesma’s head office, collected some items from the studio: “While collecting some items that Verdi Studios framed for Blesma I told them how popular photography was amongst our Members. Parm [Studio owner, Kirsty’s father] said that he would be delighted to offer up the studio

to Blesma, so I put the word out and we had 8 Members take up the offer. When somebody offers something like this for free, it’s instinctive to ask ‘what’s the catch?’ – but there wasn’t one. It was a very generous and genuine offer and I am very pleased with the response and the pictures were fantastic.” He added: “I am looking forward to arranging some future workshops with Verdi Studios and helping more Members benefit from this experience. It is so kind of them to close the business for us, it shows a real commitment to helping our wounded veterans.” Blesma Member and Trustee Andy Mudd said: “The father and daughter photographers at the Verdi Studios adjacent to Our HQ, gave their time and teaching skills plus the full use of the state-of-the-art studio for two days. Once

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cameras were adjusted we were let loose shooting in different studio modes. Lighting, shade and backgrounds were changed. Parm and Kirsty demonstrated before we each had a go at taking great pictures. Our beautiful model Victoria’s energy and smiles were infectious. The subtle changes in light and shade along with white grey or blue backgrounds kept our attention for the full day. It was a fabulous experience and our thanks once again go to Parm, his wife and daughter who hosted us at Verdi Studios.” Studio Manager and photographer Kirsty Verdi said: “It was a real honour and privilege to host the two groups of Blesma Members in the studio. To see how they adapted to get in the right position to take the shots was inspirational. I’d like to thank as well our fantastic models Katie Chenier and Victoria Joelle Montgomery for volunteering their time. We are delighted that everyone got something out of the Workshops and we look forward to working with Blesma in the future.”

Blesma, The Limbless Veterans is the national charity for all limbless service men and women, their widows and dependants. It was formed in the years following the First World War and became a national charity in 1932 Find out more at: blesma.org Follow us: @Blesma facebook.com/blesma

NEWS

UK AND USA BOMB DISPOSAL CHARITIES JOIN FORCES In the heat of World War II and during the blitzkrieg on London, German airplanes dropped bombs that often did not explode. A very brave group of men were formed to disarm these devices and protect the people and property of the United Kingdom. As Winston Churchill noted in 1941, “The rapid disposal of unexploded bombs is of the highest importance. The work of the Bomb Disposal Squads must be facilitated by the provision of every kind of up-to-date equipment.” After many hard lessons learned in blood, British Bomb Disposal operatives hosted American officers to teach them the trade of both bomb and underwater sea mine disposal. This relationship has prospered over the past 70 years, and today remains as strong as ever. This cooperation is critical because bomb disposal – now known as EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) - is widely regarded as the most dangerous job within the military. In the wake of the attacks on 11 September 2001, British and American bomb disposal forces have fought side by side in Iraq and Afghanistan, disarming countless improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and other ordnance with courage and valor. Their service has not

come without a price; many members of this community, along with their families, are battling the physical and emotional wounds of war. As part of our effort to raise awareness and funds for these remarkable men and women, and in recognition of 70 of years of partnership, the UK and US bomb disposal charities are proud to announce a joint event on 19 April 2016. This event – hosted by Britain’s Felix Fund and America’s EOD Warrior Foundation – will raise funds for the two charities who support the EOD community. The dinner will be held at Gibson Hall and will coincide with the Counter Terror Expo 2016 at Olympia, which draws in over 9,000 people across 2 days from within the EOD community. “This charitable endeavor is long overdue”, said Ken Falke, Founder and Chairman of EOD Warrior Foundation, “The men and women of today’s EOD communities have worked shoulder to shoulder and nonstop for over 14 years and it is time that we recognise their sacrifices publicly and share the great work of these two organisations.” Karl Frankland, Chairman of Felix Fund added “With troops back from Afghanistan it is even more important that we continue to raise awareness of the work of both charities and indeed much needed funds. The support we offer can be needed more when the guys and girls are not on operational tours.”

TEAM BLESMA LOOKING FOR RECRUITS TO TAKE PART IN 2016 CHALLENGE EVENTS!

Are you looking for a new challenge to kick off your new year? Team Blesma are looking for enthusiastic fundraisers to take on a multitude of challenging events throughout 2016.

hatever your ability or experience, there are events available to suit everyone ranging from 10k runs to marathons, obstacle courses to bungee jumps. Fundraisers can take part individually or as a team in their chosen event. Events coming up in 2016 across the UK include: Bear Grylls’ Survival Race, Colour Runs, marathons, half marathons, bungee jumping, skydiving and the London Triathlon. International events include trekking the Great Wall of China or the Sahara Desert, London 2 Paris cycle challenge and climbing Kilimanjaro. Participants pay an entry fee and then work towards reaching their fundraising target. These amounts depend on the event, and our fundraising team are on hand to offer guidance and fundraising tips. Included in the entry fee for each event is a Blesma t-shirt or vest, a fundraising pack full of tips for how to reach your target, on the day support and a certificate. Zanika Fearon, Senior Community & Events Fundraising Executive at Blesma says: “We are looking for people who fancy a new challenge, or for those seasoned fundraisers who want to do something a bit different to come and join Team Blesma to raise money for our injured veterans and have fun at the same time with like-minded people!”

For more information about Blesma’s events, go to www.blesma.org/support-us/fundrasing-events. To sign up with Team Blesma or for more information, call Zanika on 0208 548 7089 or email commevents@blesma.org

REVIEW: VOLVO

ENJOY THE FREEDOM OF THE OPEN ROAD > THE MOTABILITY SCHEME OFFERS PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEASE A BRAND-NEW VOLVO EVERY THREE YEARS. HERE’S HOW IT WORKS

For people with limited mobility, the horizon can seem a long way distant. But thanks to the Motability scheme, it’s possible to pursue your dreams and enjoy the thrill of the open road.

TO QUALIFY FOR THE SCHEME, YOU OR THE PERSON YOU CARE FOR MUST RECEIVE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING ALLOWANCES: • Higher Rate Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance • Enhanced Rate of the Mobility Component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) • War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement (WPMS) • Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP) If you do, you can lease a brand-new Volvo every three years, in exchange for the mobility allowances you receive. More importantly, this also applies to appointees and carers who can support this process, especially if the disabled person is under 16 or unable to look after their own affairs. That means you have the benefit of comfortable, safe motoring, for no financial outlay other than an initial advance payment which allows you to select an appropriate car for your needs. As a result, you’ll gain the benefits of having your own transport, with enough room for friends, family and all your gear. “For example,” explains Volvo’s head of business sales, Selwyn Cooper, “you could drive a load-swallowing Volvo V70 estate with an Advance Payment. Then, over the next 36 months, you can drive up to 60,000 miles at no additional cost. Servicing, replacement tyres, insurance, road tax and breakdown cover – they are all covered as part of the scheme. It’s worry-free motoring. ” Even better, you can insure two named drivers who live at the same address, giving you the chance to enjoy travelling at your pace, to suit your own timescale. Accessing the scheme is straightforward, and Volvo has specialist dealer staff to guide you through the ordering process. They know the Motability programme inside out, so can help you work out the initial cost and specify the modifications you need for your vehicle. These are often provided at no additional charge, and will ensure the car is perfectly suited to your requirements. As Mr Cooper explains, “This could be anything from the luxurious and practical XC60 SUV, to the stylish V40 hatchback.” Whatever vehicle you choose, you know you’ll be in safe hands. The V40 is one of the safest cars ever rated by independent crash tester Euro NCAP. What’s more, the entire Volvo range features a world-leading range of safety features that minimise the chances of an accident happening, and provide optimum protection if one does take place. But there’s more to Volvo’s Motability offer than cost-effective lease agreements and exemplary safety. Choose a car bearing the famous iron mark and you’ll have access to engines that combine frugality and power to give you low running costs and an engaging drive. You’ll also be able to enjoy the chic Scandinavian styling that comes as standard on Volvo’s award-winning model line-up. That, coupled with a buying experience that keeps you at the very centre, makes Volvo’s Motability offer a compelling proposition. “We strive to provide Motability customers with the very best service,” says Mr Cooper. “We recognise the difference that car ownership can make to people with disabilities, and do everything in our power to help them make the right choice of vehicle.” With support like this, it is easier than ever to lease a brand-new Motability Volvo. Which means you might just find the horizon is a little nearer than you thought.

Find out more: www.volvocars.co.uk/motability 08 I FIGHT THROUGH I www.educationforthemilitaryfamily.org.uk

MAKE EVERY TRIP AN ADVENTURE

Embrace the landscape in our intuitive and adaptive hatchback – the V40 D2 Cross Country Lux Manual with Rear Park Assist – for an Advance Payment of only £299*. DISCOVER THE VOLVO R ANGE SE ARCH VOLVO MOTABILIT Y

V40 T2 R-DESIGN GEARTRONIC FOR AN ADVANCE PAYMENT OF £399*.

XC60 D4 SE LUX NAV MANUAL FOR AN ADVANCE PAYMENT OF £1,899*.

XC70 D5 AWD SE LUX GEARTRONIC FOR AN ADVANCE PAYMENT OF £1,999*.

METALLIC PAINT AND REAR PARK ASSIST INCLUDED.

METALLIC PAINT AND WINTER PACK WITH ACTIVE BENDING HEADLIGHTS INCLUDED.

Fuel consumption and CO2 figures for the Volvo Range in MPG (I/100 km): Urban 19.1 (14.8) – 68.9 (4.1), Extra Urban 37.7 (7.5) – 85.6 (3.3), Combined 27.7 (10.2) – 155.2 (1.8). CO2 emissions 237 – 48g/km. MPG figures are obtained from laboratory testing intended for comparisons between vehicles and may not reflect real driving results. *Advance Payment of £299 is for the Volvo V40 D2 Cross Country Lux Manual. Rear Park Assist included. Advance Payment of £399 is for the V40 T2 R-Design Geartronic. Metallic Paint and Rear Park Assist included. Advance Payment of £1,899 is for the Volvo XC60 D4 SE Lux Nav Manual. Metallic Paint and Winter Pack with Active Bending Headlights included. Advance Payment of £1,999 is for the Volvo XC70 D5 AWD SE Lux Geartronic. Metallic Paint and Winter Pack with Active Bending Headlights included. Offer available on the Motability Contract Hire Scheme. To be eligible to join the Motability Scheme you must be in receipt of the Higher Rate Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance, the Enhanced Rate Mobility Component of Personal Independence Payment, War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement or the Armed Forces Independence Payment, which will be taken in lieu of the four-weekly rental for 36 months’ duration. 60,000 mileage allowance over 3 years; excess mileage charges may apply. Offer available from 01/01/2016 to 31/03/2016 subject to availability at participating Dealers. Offer not available with other promotions and may be subject to change. For full terms and conditions visit www.motability.co.uk/terms-conditions-car.pdf. Motability Contract Hire Scheme is administered by Motability Operations Limited (Registered Company No. 1373876), City Gate House, 22 Southwark Bridge Road, London SE1 9HB.

NEWS: WWTW

> MAIN: Matt on the Walk Of Britain going up Pen Y Fan – with poles / BELOW: Matt (Left)at the Cumbrian Challenge with Walk Of Britain team mates

Matt Fisher, 30, is a single leg amputee who completed the Cumbrian Challenge in 2015 as part of his training for Walking With The Wounded’s Walk Of Britain expedition across the UK.

he Cumbrian Challenge was the first bit of hill walking I had done since electing to have my leg amputated below the knee in 2011 as a result of a gunshot wound sustained serving in Afghanistan just over a year before. Last Spring I was one of the newly selected Walk Of Britain team, soon to launch a 1,000 mile expedition throughout mainland UK, who arrived in the Lake District to ‘warm up’ with the Cumbrian Challenge. The event is Walking With The Wounded’s main annual fundraiser that takes place in the beautiful Cumbrian village of Grasmere, at the foot of the mighty Fairfield, the highest of a group of hills in the Eastern Fells, standing to the south of the Helvellyn range. For us it was an opportunity to train, to get to know each other properly and to get some mileage done over hills to see how we would fare on the

various hills we would take on during the Walk Of Britain, which would include Britain’s three highest peaks. The weekend consisted of Friday night registration and the chance to mingle and share banter with all the competition teams who had travelled from all over the country to take part, followed by the challenge itself on the Saturday, a celebratory drink or two afterwards, departing on the Sunday. There were two routes: The ‘Tough’ and the ‘Tougher’, 20km and 29km over the various fells around Grasmere, starting and finishing at the sports ground in the middle of the village. The terrain up there is classic Lake District fells, rocky scrambles, grassy slopes, ditches and streams and good-old scree slopes that can be particularly challenging underfoot. I didn’t think the distances sounded like very much and 20 or so kilometres on flat ground isn’t

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that much - but the type and variety of terrain up there makes it far more difficult and there were plenty of red faces on the trail. The Tough route started fairly steady, as do many hill walks, but quickly got quite steep – it’s the Lake District! The angle of my prosthetic foot is set and does not adjust for different slopes and gradients so hills were always going to be a struggle for me. I soon started to realise that walking poles would have been helpful! I recall on the downhill of one of the first fells there was a considerably steep, wet, grassy slope that was the cause of much laughter. There were people slipping and sliding all over the place and at one point I suddenly became aware of a girl in my peripheral vision sliding almost the whole way down on her backside having slipped over backwards, laughing the whole way down. Just when I thought I was holding it together quite well, I slipped in the same way and decided that maybe the best way down the valley was to slide; it certainly saved a bit of energy. We managed to get round and got back to the marquee on the sports field for a well-earned beer – cheered into the finish by the team of volunteers and staff from the charity. If nothing else I had learned that the best way for me to stay standing and actually power up the hills and work my way steadily down would be with the aid of walking poles rather than hanging on to another human – but the event brought us closer together as a team as a result as we had to work together to complete it. The vibe on the Cumbrian Challenge is very jovial and although some of the faster teams take the challenge itself seriously, the atmosphere is filled with friendly competitive banter and everyone takes it in the spirit you would expect from a fundraising event. One of the prizes given at the after-party on the Saturday night is for ‘Best Fancy Dress’ and there were some hilarious costumes out on the hills that day, some were laughably impractical including the winners who were dressed as cowboys on horseback!

“

THE TEAMS THEMSELVES COME FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE, DIFFERENT AGES, DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AND VARYING LEVELS OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS TYPE OF ACTIVITY.”

The teams themselves come from all walks of life, different ages, different backgrounds and varying levels of experience in this type of activity. As a predominantly corporate event there were teams from various different businesses, teams from the Army, the University Officers Training Corps, sponsors, trainee nurses, beneficiaries of the charity and past expedition team members. It was a great chance to meet some of the beneficiaries who have been through, or are going through programmes funded by Walking With The Wounded and to hear their stories about how they have benefitted from the charity. It really puts the event into context because that is where the money raised is going. The party on the Saturday night was a fun way to round-off a tough day’s walk and after a free massage from some volunteer student sports massage students to iron-out some of the aches and pains, we all went into the marquee where there was food, drink and live music and the much anticipated prize giving. The CEO, Ed Parker said a few words and announced the winners, unsurprisingly the winners of the ‘Tougher’ route was an army team who were a great bunch. The Cumbrian Challenge is a great way to spend a weekend, have a laugh and get some exercise in undoubtedly one of the country’s most scenic places. This year it’s the same weekend as Eurovision so expect the party afterwards to have a suitably Swedish twist.

To find out more please visit -

wwtw.org.uk or Follow us on Twitter: @SupportTheWalk #CumbrianChallenge

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO WEAR TO SURVIVE A WEEKEND WALKING IN THE LAKES?

The weather in the Lakes is very changeable, the temperature will drop by a degree every 100m you climb and the wind chill can be significantly colder. There will be route marshals on hand, as well as medical staff but don’t be caught out – check our suggest kit list. A variety of clothing is needed, plus safety kit. Personal kit requirements: > 35 litre rucksack (slightly smaller/ larger

is fine but this size is ideal to allow for all of the kit in this list; for ease of walking it is best to avoid tying clothing around the waist and having to carry items in the hands) > Mobile phone (and waterproof case for it!) (Vodafone has the best signal in the area) > Whistle > Walking boots – Broken in i.e. worn in the hills several times to ensure the boots fit properly, are comfortable and don’t create blisters > Waterproof / windproof Jacket & Trousers > Fleece > Walking Poles (personal preference) > 2 base layers (one to wear and one as spare) > 2 pairs of hiking socks (one to wear and one as spare) > Thermal gloves & hat > Compeed / blister patches / Vaseline > Personal medical kit (if you are aware of existing condition, please ensure that you have all necessary equipment with you) > Sun tan lotion, Sunglasses and Sun hat (yes, even in the Lakes) > Water bottle with 2 litres of water > Lunch and snacks > Head torch (just in case…) > Sense of humour GOOD SNACKS ARE: > Nuts and dried fruit - good for slow energy release > Sweets and chocolate - good for instant energy > Flapjack - Filling and slow energy release > Energy drinks such as Mountain Fuel. It is personal preference but a good mix of slow energy and fast energy release foods with carbohydrates will keep you going. Water is ideal for keeping hydrated. If you prefer to have flavour to your water you can add squash but it is classed as a mild diuretic and therefore you are likely to need the toilet more often. Caffeine based liquids such as tea and coffee are also seen as mild diuretics so the same applies; definitely worth taking into consideration for a long day

PACE REHABILITATION Below the knee amputee Matt Fisher (former 3-Rifles) recently completed the 1,000 mile Walk Of Britain (WoB) challenge. As part of a six injured ex-servicemen team, for the Walking With The Wounded charity, Matt was also joined by Pace staff for the day, when he passed through Manchester on the gruelling 72 day expedition. Once safely back home, Matt took some well-earned time out to reflect upon his achievements – > HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED WITH THE WWTW CHARITY? I heard about the charity at Headley Court and originally applied for the Everest Expedition, but had to pull out because it was too early after my amputation. However, when the WoB came up, it was the right time for me I guess. > THE WOB CHALLENGE PERHAPS DIDN’T LOOK AS EXTREME AS PREVIOUS WWTW EXPEDITIONS. HOW DID IT COMPARE? This was by far the longest expedition for WWTW, in both distance and duration and was pretty gruelling. The conditions in the UK are obviously not nearly as extreme as say, the Arctic but the mileage was a real challenge particularly for my leg. > HOW MUCH AND WHAT TRAINING DID YOU DO IN PREPARATION? Due to my amputation I’m prone to lower back problems on long distances, so I did a lot of strengthening and conditioning work on my core and back > DURING THE CHALLENGE DID YOU HAVE A DAILY ROUTINE? We’d walk for 7 or 8 hours, covering anything from 10 to 22 miles a day, so I had to try and keep both myself and my prosthesis in good working order. Inevitably I got pressure sores and rubs which I had to keep on top of. I did get an infection which required antibiotics.

> BEING JOINED BY PRINCE HARRY WAS PRESUMABLY MOTIVATING?

“

ALL THE RECEPTIONS IN THE TOWNS WE WALKED THROUGH WERE AMAZING.

Prince Harry was great and fitted in straight away. Obviously he draws a lot of attention and all the cameras and media can make the day more tiring, but we were all glad to have him on board. He joined us a few hundred miles into the challenge. When we walked into Ludlow, his first day with us, everyone was shouting ‘Well done Harry” and I looked at him and said “Well done? You’ve only done 18 miles!” He agreed and laughed.

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> WHAT PROSTHETIC ADJUSTMENTS/ TRICKS DID YOU NEED TO DO DURING THE CHALLENGE? My stump started to change shape after about 2 weeks, because of the pounding it was receiving. We cut holes in the socket to relieve pressure in the areas where it was digging into bone, but eventually I had to get back to Pace Rehabilitation and have an Össur MSS socket made. It was an amazing bit of kit, the socket is cast on the leg and sets in a few minutes. The whole process lasted less than 2 hours and it got me back on the road. > DID YOU HAVE ANY SPARE PROSTHESES? I used different legs at various stages. Sometimes it was just a case of making it feel slightly different, to avoid pain in the same places all the time. I used different prostheses for different terrain, for example my Össur XC foot was really springy and helped on the mountain. Also, although I use pin lock sockets, on hilly days I’d wear a suspension sleeve to provide added support. > WERE YOU CONSCIOUS OF YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS BEING AN INSPIRATION TO OTHERS? I met a young leg amputee lad at Bingley Grammar School. None of his class mates knew he was an amputee, but his teacher said he had something to show me. He lifted his trouser leg up and all his peers were amazed. I realised then that it had given him the confidence to show his school friends.

He has more than made up for it by joining us again and generally being a great support to the charity as Patron of the expedition.

> DID YOU HAVE ANY EMOTIONAL MOMENTS? All the receptions in the towns we walked through were amazing. The support from the public was incredible and I thank them for their sincere and genuine responses to what we were doing.

> WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOU? Good question. Watch this space. I may have developed a thirst for adventure...

www.pacerehab.com

CONVERTING PATIENTS INTO PEOPLE

Rehabilitation Services Prosthetics I Orthotics Physiotherapy I Counselling Occupational Therapy Immediate Needs Assessments Expert Witness Services Quantum Reports

Below the knee amputee returns to firefighting

Back to life â&#x20AC;&#x201C; on duty National Referral Centre Tel: 0845 450 7357 Email: info@pacerehab.com

PACE Rehabilitation 36 Brook Street, Cheadle, Cheshire, SK8 2BX

Unit 1, Anglo Business Park, Asheridge Road, Chesham, Bucks HP5 2QA

TRUE HEROES RACING

True Heroes Racing is the UK’s first and only motorcycle race team for injured UK Service personnel. The team was formed in 2012 by a serving member of the Royal Navy, Warrant Officer Phil Spencer, who wanted to offer opportunities for injured UK Service personnel to become directly involved in motorcycle racing (either as mechanics, riders or logistical support).

his would act as a way of regaining a focus and sense of direction during and after their rehabilitation; but also proving to themselves, as much as the wider audience, that their life-changing injuries do not limit the activities they can partake in. True Heroes Racing enables injured riders to race specially adapted motorcycles, modified and maintained by injured mechanics. The organization also invites and hosts members of the Armed Forces, from local rehabilitation units and military establishments, to join them as their guests, track-side at various rounds of the British Superbike Championships where the team are competing. This outlet hopefully provides rehabilitation support to injured personnel, enabling them to get up close to the modified motorcycles, experience just what is still possible and enjoy the high-octane, adrenaline-fuelled world of superbike racing.

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After forming in early 2012 the team’s first challenge was to obtain a race licence from the Auto Cycle Union (ACU) for the UK’s first double amputee motorcycle racer, ex LCPL Murray Hambro. After some hard lobbying this was achieved and on 1st September 2012 True Heroes Racing competed in their first ever race with a specially adapted Triumph motorcycle and an injured support crew. Successfully completing their first race was not enough; Phil’s aim was to take True Heroes Racing to the top level in the UK. Over the coming months the team developed their adapted motorcycle, overcame new issues and competed at club races all over the UK, Rule Books were re-written and established regulations challenged. In April 2013, after gaining further approval and extensive corporate sponsorship True Heroes Racing broke new ground and became the first and only injured Serviceman’s motorcycle race team to ever compete at the British Superbike Championships.

> MAIN: True Heroes Racing team 2015 / INSERT: True Heroes Racing Knockhill BSB Pit Lane 2015

True Heroes Racing has continued to expand year-after-year and is now the professional unit followed by thousands across the UK. The team’s unique and sustained approach has led to a waiting list for injured Service personnel to join, as well as interest from across the world to form links and learn lessons. It’s certainly not the injuries of it’s members that is holding them back, it’s purely an increase in financial backing to fund their continued expansion. True Heroes Racing has aspirations to take injured Service personnel’s direct involvement in competitive motorcycle racing to the very top within the UK. They hope one day, to be able to field a fully professional premier Superbike Class team, competing against established, high profile riders and factory backed teams. At this level True Heroes Racing would also be offering paid employment for injured Service personnel in new careers outside of the military.

If you would like to learn more about True Heroes Racing and are interested in joining or supporting the team, please visit their website at www.TrueHeroesRacing.co.uk Alternatively, you can visit their social media sites.

“

TRUE HEROES RACING HAS CONTINUED TO EXPAND YEAR-AFTER-YEAR AND IS NOW THE PROFESSIONAL UNIT FOLLOWED BY THOUSANDS ACROSS THE UK.” Never before had an adapted motorcycle, raced by a disabled rider, supported by other injured personnel; ever featured at the British Superbike Championships. Competing on this televised stage now meant not only was the team offering opportunities for injured Service personnel to become involved in motorcycle racing as a form of rehabilitation, but the team were also normalising the life changing injuries sustained by it’s members while inspiring others to attempt the things they were told or believed to be impossible. From the very first moment True Heroes Racing took to the track they have inspired, and great support has grown for the team and their achievements. Their innovative and unique use of 2 wheeled motorsports has returned likeminded injured Service personnel to a fast, frenetic and pressurised environment. The camaraderie and sense of humour amongst the team is identical to that found amongst serving military units, and this is a key feature of True Heroes Racing. This helps show the world that it’s members are moving on from what has happened to them in the past and is shown through the rider’s chosen race numbers which relate to the dates they sustained their injuries. Due to support and exposure in just one season competing at the British Superbike Championships, the team were able to double in size and field a second injured rider, ex Paratrooper Luke Smith, supported by yet more injured Service personnel.

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TRUE HEROES RACING

> MAIN: Murray Hambro, True Heroes Racing Oulton Park / INSERT: BSB Cadwell Park 2015 - Ducati Trioptions Cup Race 1

“

TRUE HEROES RACING IS A TRULY UNIQUE TEAM THAT HAS TAKEN INJURED SERVICE PERSONNEL AND PUT THEM IN A SCENARIO THAT IS ABOUT REHABILITATION THROUGH RACING.”

LCPL Murray Hambro was serving with the Second Royal Tank Regiment in Afghanistan on the 9th December 2010 (hence his chosen race number of #912), when the vehicle he was commanding triggered a huge IED. Murray was propelled 40ft out of the turret of the vehicle, suffering extensive injuries including; broken pelvis, ripped liver and spleen, 6 fractured vertebrae and severely broken bones in both feet.

urray was immediately Med Evac’d back to Camp Bastion, stabilised and then air-lifted back to the UK. He felt relief when told by his consultant in Birmingham Hospital that he’d fractured both feet, but this feeling was short lived. He and his consultant had very different ideas on the definition of fractured! Murray thought a bit of plaster and he’d be up and about again in no time, but the consultant said, “The right one has got to come off. We could try to rebuild the left, but you’ll be in and out of hospital for up to three years, and the end result could be you lose it anyway.” 48 hours after arriving in the UK Murray was a double amputee facing an uncertain future, but determined to enjoy all the things he’d done before. After his operation his surgeon tried to motivate him by asking him about his hobbies, “I ride motorbikes” he proudly stated. “You need to find a new hobby” was the surgeon’s firm reply. But by April 2011, against all advice, Murray was back out on the roads on an adapted motorcycle. He’d ridden since the age of seven, but was now finding out whether it was possible for him to ride again, without the use of his legs. It was at this point that he met a Royal Navy sailor, Phil Spencer, who was taken aback by Murray’s story and passion for motorcycles, but wasn’t comfortable with him learning to ride again on the public roads. Meeting again later that same year, Phil enquired about Murray’s progress and suggested they go to the track instead. From riding in the relative safety of organised track days, very quickly Phil developed the concept of forming an injured Serviceman’s motorcycle race team and in early 2012 Phil formed True Heroes Racing. After securing him his race licence, on the 1st September 2012, Murray became the inaugural rider for True Heroes Racing. The team then proceeded to complete Murray’s Rookie year in the remaining 2 months of the 2012 race season, competing at various race circuits all over the UK for 8 back-to-back weekends. Then in April 2013 Murray broke new ground again and became the first, and only, amputee to ever race at the British Superbike Championships when he competed in the 2013 Triumph Triple Challenge with True Heroes Racing.

Murray said of the team, “True Heroes Racing is a truly unique team that has taken injured service personnel and put them in a scenario that is about rehabilitation through racing. Headley Court is obviously the first port of call for anyone injured, and they are the best that they can be, helping injured soldiers back on the road to recovery. It was a huge part for me and vital in the support I received, but when you’re not in the caring hands of the staff at Headley Court, that is when you can very easily find yourself alone, staring at four walls thinking about everything and all too often, people can find themselves in a very dark place. Depression affects so many injured Service personnel and can be a major factor following any trauma. So what True Heroes Racing enables you to do is escape for a weekend and do something that you never contemplated you could do, whether it’s picking up spanners and working on the bikes or racing them on the track.” Murray very quickly became the crowd’s champion, and has been inspirational to injured Service personnel and disabled civilians alike. He’s approached every obstacle with the same determination and black humour, after all this is a man with “LEGLESS” emblazoned on his race helmet and leathers! Since his first full season in 2013 Murray has competed with True Heroes Racing at the British Superbike Championships for 3 seasons, in both the Triumph Triple Challenge and the Ducati TriOptions Cup. Through his achievements with True Heroes Racing, he’s clearly proven that anything is possible and that the only limits in life are the ones you impose upon yourself.

TRUE HEROES RACING

ADAM FRANCIS

Adam was a reserve forces solider, who was called up for duty in Afghanistan. He’d always wanted to serve his country as a regular soldier, but due to personal circumstances was never able to. He’d been a member of the reserve forces for over 4 years when he was called to serve in Afghanistan in 2012; his full time profession was as a Heavy Goods Vehicle driver (HGV)

e was 4 months into his first tour when on the 19th November 2012, whilst driving a Jackal armoured vehicle, he was involved in an IED explosion. The full force of the explosion was felt underneath Adam’s side of the vehicle, the other occupants of the vehicle suffered only minor injuries. Unfortunately, Adam suffered severe injuries in the explosion, one of his legs actually being a traumatic amputation within the vehicle. He also sustained a wide range of severe injuries to other parts his body and internal organs. Arriving at Camp Bastion after being Med Evac’d from the battlefield under enemy fire, the remains of Adam’s other leg were amputated due to the severity of the blast injuries. Once his numerous other injuries were dealt with, and he was stabilised, Adam was flown back to the UK as a Priority One case and went straight to Birmingham Hospital Intensive Care Unit. After undergoing extensive treatment, Adam was eventually released from Birmingham Hospital and moved under the care of the Rehabilitation Unit at Headley Court to begin the process of his physical rehabilitation. It was during one of his stays at Headley Court in 2013 that he was invited, along with other patients and staff, to attend a British Superbike Championship race event, as a guest of True Heroes Racing. Here he witnessed firsthand just what was possible post injury and just how much True Heroes Racing was achieving. Adam had always wanted to ride his beloved motorcycle again, but believed this was not possible due to his injuries. After being a guest of True Heroes Racing that weekend, he witnessed the possibility of achieving this again. With the help of True Heroes Racing and the use of specialist adaptions, Adam got back on his motorcycle and still rides a Suzuki Hayabusa to this day. Not only

18 I FIGHT THROUGH I www.educationforthemilitaryfamily.org.uk

did Adam’s visit to True Heroes Racing assist him in regaining the freedom of riding his motorcycle again, but he also became a member of race team. He joined True Heroes Racing as a Race Mechanic full time initially, for the 2014 race season and has remained ever since. Initially only possessing a few basic motorcycle technical skills, Adam has learnt on the job from experienced members of the team and is now regarded as one of the senior members of the technical support crew. For Adam, being a part of True Heroes Racing has not only taught him new skills, but also immersed him in a likeminded military family; returning him to a pressurised environment, similar in many ways to the battlefield, where others rely on you to complete tasks quickly and correctly. This has proven to be an environment in which Adam has thrived and taken great pleasure from his achievements. He has never let any challenge prevent him completing a task and is even seen in the team’s awning regularly using his prosthetic leg socket as a tool tidy! Being a member of True Heroes Racing has also enabled him to mix with other injured personnel overcoming similar issues; this has also shown him that there are no limits to what can be achieved after suffering life changing injuries. Since leaving Headley Court in 2014 Adam has returned to his full time job as an HGV driver. He is believed to be the UK’s first double amputee HGV driver, who has an unrestricted licence and uses no specialist adaptions to drive his truck. He has also remained a key member of the technical support crew within True Heroes Racing and has just completed his second full season with the team. Alongside his own technical duties, Adam also mentors new members of the team with race motorcycle preparation and maintenance at events, helping others enjoy membership benefits of this truly unique race team.

FIGHT THROUGH

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get to the dockyard so looked at getting a scooter but I ended up opting for a motorbike. > WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO RIDE? It was honestly the cheapest way to get around but then my neighbour (who was a complete nutter on a bike) let me ride his Kawasaki ZXR400 Pocket Rocket. What a bike that was! After nearly binning it on a corner & completely thrashing his gearbox, I came back with the biggest grin on my face. I was hooked! > WHAT BIKE DO YOU OWN NOW? Yamaha MT-09 but the 2016 models have been announced & I’ve got my eye on the MT-10. > WHAT’S THE BEST PART OF RIDING? The best part is the freedom. When I was young, I was only interested in going everywhere as quickly as I could. Not at all safe & very stupid, needless to say I had a few accidents. However, after joining P&H & doing my advanced riding course, I’ve decided to become a CBT Instructor. Riding a road well gives me the sense of fulfilment & of course as I pass like minded individuals that cursory bikers nod makes me realise I’m part of something very special.

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ARMY AMPUTEE:

MOUNTAIN BIKING IN WALES MADE ME ‘FEEL NORMAL AGAIN’

CYCLING

An ex-Army amputee who spent a week exploring South Wales on a mountain bike with Help for Heroes has offered a heartfelt thanks to the charity for helping him to ‘feel normal again’.

imon Taylor, 33, a sergeant with the Light Dragoons, served in Bosnia and Iraq before being deployed to Afghanistan. While on a routine patrol in 2009, his vehicle hit an improvised explosive device. He suffered a multitude of broken bones, a traumatic brain injury, a collapsed lung, spinal fractures and a shattered ankle. As a result of the injuries, in 2011 Simon’s right leg was amputated below the knee. He has had a cage fitted around his spine, his shoulder pinned and arm plated. Psychologically he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder stemming from feelings of guilt for his comrade who died in the incident. In a letter to the Sports Recovery team from Help for Heroes’ Plymouth Recovery Centre who led the trip in the Brecon Beacons, Simon gives thanks for helping him to feel relaxed and at peace in a world he feels he no longer fits into. It reads: “I wish to say thank you to you all. Not for the mountain biking as that goes without saying, as it was an amazing week. No, I wanted to say thank you for the opportunity to feel normal again. The injured often struggle to find their place in the world after they leave service. We do not really fit into the military anymore nor do we fit into the civilian world in which we now must live. We tend to drift along hoping for moments like this week where we can just relax and be with others who feel the same and share similar values and beliefs. Time to tell stories that are all “uniquely the same”, or spin dits as the Marine counterparts would have it. To find yourself with a group of people who you have never met before and within five minutes feel completely at home. I want to thank you for letting me feel relaxed, at home and at peace. It enabled me to have banter, share brews and wets, scoff and scran, forget all the trouble of the world and just be yourself.” Simon’s first encounter with cycling post-injury was in 2012, shortly before being medically discharged from the Army, after Help for Heroes funded a mountain bike through its grants scheme. Simon, who is originally from Middlesbrough but now living with his family in Norwich, commented: “In the Army I was always really active. Running was my escape. After my injury somebody suggested mountain biking; luckily Help for Heroes were able to provide funding. My first time on the bike after receiving it, I went further in that 15 minute ride than I’d been in the last two years. I became addicted. It’s my way of helping with the psychological side of things, getting out and about in nature. It gives me the space to get my head together. I only have one leg for power but when it comes to the downhill stints I’m not limited; I have a sense of freedom.” Simon added: “Help for Heroes is all about having somebody or something there, not just for me but for my family. My wife and kids were worried about me; they needed support too. “If Help for Heroes didn’t exist people like me would be lost. Some people think that now Afghanistan is over you don’t need the support, but these injuries will go on for the rest of our lives.”

“

IF HELP FOR HEROES DIDN’T EXIST PEOPLE LIKE ME WOULD BE LOST. SOME PEOPLE THINK THAT NOW AFGHANISTAN IS OVER YOU DON’T NEED THE SUPPORT, BUT THESE INJURIES WILL GO ON FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES.” Follow Us: @fighthroughmag I FIGHT THROUGH I 21

GET CYCLING

BIKES NOT BARRIERS!! > WRITTEN BY: MICK ALLAN, FROM GET CYCLING, EXPERTS IN PEDAL-POWERED MOBILITY, EXAMINES THE OPTIONS FOR KEEPING GOING ON TWO WHEELS - OR THREE.

aving restricted mobility can be the most frustrating thing for anyone, and particularly for anyone with a personal history of high activity and good fitness. This is where cycling can really come to the rescue. It’s an amazingly efficient way of getting about, and incredibly adaptable. For people with disabilities it can feel borderline miraculous. People come to us because they want to get into cycling (or back into cycling after injury), for all the usual reasons that anyone wants to ride a bike - whether you just love cycling like I do, or because you see it as a means to an end, as equipment for maintaining fitness, as a mode of transport or as a leisure activity. We all have our reasons. it might be to go riding with the kids. Or even to get away from them! Fitness, transport and fun aside - for many of our clients it’s just about being able to do something which is everyday and normal. For an able-bodied person, the job of selecting the right bike can be daunting. So you’d think a disabled person might find it even more difficult. However, for those with special or specific cycling needs, the selection process is often easier because the nature of an individual’s disability often narrowly defines the type of machine that can be ridden. For some it’s often possible to take a regular bicycle straight off the shop floor and adapt it with off-the-shelf components. Setting up a city bike for the use of someone who has the use of only one arm, for example, might be as straightforward as moving a brake lever from one side to the other. A zerocost adaptation, but one that’s seemingly beyond the imagination of most mainstream bike shops.

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22 I FIGHT THROUGH I www.educationforthemilitaryfamily.org.uk

SEMI-RECUMBENT BIKES AND TRIKES

Many appreciate the sitting position of these laid-back machines. The lower seat position makes the bike easy to get on and off. When you stop, your feet can be placed flat on the road. With the upper body upright, the neck is straight and free with no pressure on the wrists. A supportive seat ensures stability and comfort.

CYCLING

“

HAVING RESTRICTED MOBILITY CAN BE THE MOST FRUSTRATING THING FOR ANYONE, AND PARTICULARLY FOR ANYONE WITH A PERSONAL HISTORY OF HIGH ACTIVITY AND GOOD FITNESS.

At the other end of the scale, those with more profound disabilities will require a more complex machine and the possible addition of extra low gearing, fixed wheel transmissions, harnesses, special seats, pedal platforms and even specially made components. The aim is always to select the machine which most closely meets the cyclist’s needs and then fine-tune and adapt it to suit their particular requirements.

> HANDCYCLES Most use a fairly standard bike transmission which is ‘pedalled’ with hands, rather than feet. They come as a complete unit or a bolt-on kit which attaches to a standard wheelchair.

> TANDEMS Come in an enormous range of shapes and sizes and work well if two riders of different ability desire to ride together. For instance if one has visual impairment or poor balance.

Cycling ticks different boxes for different folks: Freedom, fitness, excitement, personal achievement, companionship, or as a solitary pleasure. Sometimes a person’s disability is so profound that they can do no more than ride as a passenger on something like a wheelchair tandem or wheelchair transporter, perhaps not able to contribute anything to forward motion. No matter, it’s still cycling to us. And if the ‘Wind in the Hair’ box is the only box we can tick - sometimes that’s enough.

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CASE STUDY: TALAN

Lt Talan SkeelsPiggins RN Rtd, BA(Hons). MA. > MAIN: Talan Skeels-Piggins at 2010 Winter Paralympics / INSERT: Mark Ormrod (triple amputee) at The Bike Experience Charity

Talan Skeels-Piggins is a World Champion, European Champion and Winter Para-lympian. Talan entered the history books on 21 June 2012 when he became the first paraplegic to race a motorcycle in an ACU licensed able-bodied race. This has changed the course of his sport forever, having overcome great odds to achieve something that many thought was impossible.

aving served in the Royal Navy as a Fighter Controller from 1991 to 1996, Talan was a PE teacher and serving Lieutenant in the Royal Navy Reserves. In March 2003, on his way to play rugby, he was knocked off his motorcycle, run over by the oncoming traffic and left paralysed from the chest down. After just eight days of being paralysed, Talan claimed he would learn to ski, get into the British Team and represent Great Britain at the

2010 Winter Paralympics. Seven years after this claim he became Britains top placed male skier in the Giant Slalom and Super G events at the 2010 Vancouver Paralympic Games. The following year he went on to become European Champion and in 2013 became the first sitting skier to win International medals in both IPC Alpine and Boarder-Cross disciplines. He set up and managed the GB Para-Snowboard Team in 2014, with his racers achieving six World Cup medals, two World Championship medals and world ranked No1 and No7.

Wanting to continue his passion of motorcycling, he then took a gamble of buying a bike, adapting it and then set about teaching himself to ride without the use of his legs. Using an electronic gearshifter, bicycle toe clips and velcro, Talan managed to work out a successful way of riding around a track. Not happy with that, he went on to pass all four levels of the Californian Superbike School, and in June 2012 became the first paraplegic to race an able-bodied race. This ruling gave other disabled riders a pathway to gain their ACU licence and compete in two-wheeled sport. Competing in the Thunderbike Extreme and the MRO600 classes, he has to start at the back of the grid for every race. His best result came at Castle Combe in 2014 when he started in 41st position and finished 6th in his class. In July 2015 he became 600cc World Champion (Paraplegic Class) at the Bridgestone World Cup event for disabled motorcycle racers at Vallelunga, Italy. Then in August 2015 he set an unofficial land speed record for a naturally aspirated motorcycle ridden by a paralysed rider. Knowing just how much freedom and enjoyment he got from riding again, in 2011 he founded The Bike Experience, a charity which teaches disabled motorcyclists how to ride again. Over the past five years the charity has helped 170 disabled people to enjoy the freedom of riding two on wheels. The riders have a variety of disabilities: paralysis, amputation (single to triple amputees), PTSD, MS, Stroke, VI. There are adapted motorcycles to suit the various injuries and disabilities. Not wanting to leave the military, in 2006 Talan won his case at the Medical Board of Survey and became the first paraplegic to be retained by the Royal Navy on active service. He continued to serve with the AWNIS branch at NATO HQ in Northwood during maritime exercises. His ruling has set a precedent allowing appeal against retirement from the Armed Forces for injured military personnel. If you would like to know more about the Bike Experience charity please head to their Facebook site or website (www.tbex.co.uk).

INTERVIEW: CORIE MAPP

CORIE MAPP >SPEAKS TO FIGHT THROUGH EDITOR - JOANNE NATTRESS

Lance Corporal Corie Mapp of the C Squadron, Household Cavalry was on a reconnaissance operation in 2010 in northern Helmand province, Afghanistan, when his vehicle hit an IED. This is the story of how Corie recovered from an injury, to be part of the Paralympic Inspirational Programme, and race bobsleigh at Calgary Olympic Park.

pon impact Corie lost his left leg, his jaw was broken, left hand broken, lip severed and he sustained a lung puncture. His right leg was unable to be saved and was later amputated in Bastion. Corie has had to learn to live again as a double amputee.“There are so many small things you take for granted as an able bodied person, that become a challenge when you are disabled. Sometimes the hardest challenge is the mental attitude to just get up on a morning” Corie isn’t looking for sympathy with this statement, just telling us the facts as they are. “Family, the Staff at Headley Court and Sport are the things that helped me get up on the days when I feel like staying in bed, they give me something to carry on for.”

26 I FIGHT THROUGH I www.educationforthemilitaryfamily.org.uk

When I asked what effect his injuries have on a day to day basis, he humbly said “this is probably a really small thing, but it was difficult for me, I wanted to be able to teach my two girls how to ride their bikes, to be able to run alongside them in case they fell off, however, although it took some time, longer than it would normally, I did it, and to me this was a major achievement” Corie also told me that he had a goal of driving a manual car again, when he mentioned this his attitude was ‘I know I can do this, just let me do it’ again through sheer determination and personal belief in himself this was another achievement of note. I asked Corie “With so many sports out there that are less dangerous, why did you choose Bobsleigh?

> MAIN: Corie Mapp at the ParaBobsleigh World Cup / INSERT: Corie competing in the Bobsleigh (Omega Sponsor)

“

SOMETIMES THE HARDEST CHALLENGE IS THE MENTAL ATTITUDE TO JUST GET UP ON A MORNING

“It came from Martin, the head of Sports Recovery for Help for Heroes. He told me he was taking people over to Canada and encouraged me to join them. The first year he asked, I said no, but the next year I decided to give it a go.” Initially they requested Corie have a go at the Skeleton, “I said Hell NO! I am not going down there head first, I will try the Bobsleigh” Around the difficult parts of the tracks the coaches watch the guys as they make their slippery decent, monitoring their response at the most dangerous parts of the course, as Corie said “these are the parts where you need to do well or you crash.” After monitoring Corie they told him he had a future in Bobsleigh and so it all began. One of the great parts of getting involved with Bobsleigh, other than the obvious adrenaline rush, is there is no need for any adaptive specialised equipment, all you need is a full face motorbike helmet with either goggles or visor. So with very little personal equipment needed it is a great sport to go out and give it a go. Corie maintains that getting involved with sport and Bobsleigh has helped with his recovery. “It restores your confidence. As Soldiers we are very competitive, and being part of the Team GB out in Sochi enables you to be competitive in a positive way. Also the exercise releases endorphins which in turn make you feel good, helping your mental attitude, it also gives you something to strive for, and sometimes something to get out of bed for” I asked, do you have any advice for guys struggling at the moment? “The best advice I can give anyone who is struggling, is to tell someone, it need not be the Head Psyc, it can be a family member, nurse, or even the ground staff, just acknowledging you are not yourself that day can help you. Or if you feel you cannot talk to someone write it down, it is important to let the feeling out in some way”.

FIGHT THROUGH

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KARMA MOBILITY ENSURES THAT THE OUTSTANDING DESIGN OF EVERY PRODUCT IS EXTENSIVELY TESTED AND EVALUATED BEFORE BEING PLACED ON THE MARKET ”

The Flexx HD can cater for users weighing up to 170kg (26st 7lbs) and is available in 20”, 22” and 24” seat widths. The lightweight aluminium frame allows numerous adjustments to enable the user to configure the wheelchair to meet his or her specific requirements. Further levels of user comfort are provided by backrest height and angle adjustment. Additional features include: multiple rear wheel positions, adjustable castor angle, seat depth adjustment and a double cross brace for increased durability. Complimenting the Flexx HD is the Ergo Lite 2, the company’s lightest manual wheelchair. Weighing just 8.7kg (19lbs) and despite its light weight, it still has the strong build quality you would expect from a Karma Mobility wheelchair. Featuring detachable footrest hangers, it has the same Aegis microbe shield and shaped seat as the rest of the Ergo range and the S-Ergo seat promotes pressure redistribution for greater comfort and helps prevent the user sliding down the seat. Supplying the NHS, care homes and numerous mobility retailers throughout the UK with its high quality wheelchairs, Karma Mobility ensures that the outstanding design of every product is extensively tested and evaluated before being placed on the market. All Karma products therefore stand the test of time and prove to be a good long term investment. For more information or to find out your nearest Karma Mobility retailer visit: www.karmamobility.co.uk/ where-to-buy or call 0845 630 3436.

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PTSD

POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER

(PTSD) 101

Hi there, I’m Si Brodie and as a veteran and a qualified counsellor, I specialise in working with military personnel/veterans and their families. There’s a LOT of confusing information about PTSD out there. So to help you out, I’ll endeavour to answer, very simply, the following questions:

> WHAT IS PTSD? > WHAT CAUSES PTSD? > WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF PTSD? > WHAT CAN I DO IF I HAVE PTSD? > HOW CAN I SUPPORT SOMEONE WITH PTSD? WHAT CAUSES PTSD?

Individuals can develop PTSD if they are exposed to actual or threatened death or serious injury, or to sexual violation.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF PTSD?

Someone with PTSD may experience some of the following: > Flashbacks that feel as if the trauma is happening again. > Nightmares and/or disturbed sleep. > Feelings of extreme distress when reminded of the trauma. > Having a heightened alertness to potential dangers. > Having thoughts or mental images about the incident that intrude on life. > Physical stress reactions such as nausea, racing heartbeat, sweating etc. > Being easily irritated / angry / upset. > Poor concentration > Self-destructive behaviour (alcohol/drug misuse, excessive smoking/exercise etc) > Keeping busy to avoid having to think about the incident > Feeling detached from reality and/or emotionally numb.

WHAT CAN I DO IF I HAVE PTSD?

There are a number of things you can do to help yourself and only YOU will know what works for you. Some common resilience-building activities include: > Accept you have been through a trauma and that your responses are perfectly natural. > Try to exercise appropriately, eat healthily and get 8-hours sleep a night. A healthy body helps you keep a healthy mind and that builds resilience. > Talk to someone you trust when you are ready. It can be a family member, friend, work colleague, someone with similar experiences, or a therapist (my details are at the end). I know this may seem like the LAST thing you want to do, but trust me, it will be the best thing to help your recovery. > Try Mindfulness (there are lots of online resources and smartphone apps), it’s a technique for becoming more aware of what’s happening in the present. I promise you, it’s an amazing tool to help you on the path to recovery. > Contact one of the many PTSD/mental health/veteran organisations for support. > Speak to your GP and see what help they can offer.

30 I FIGHT THROUGH I www.educationforthemilitaryfamily.org.uk

HOW CAN I SUPPORT SOMEONE WITH PTSD? There are many ways you can support someone with PTSD:

> Give them time to talk to you and tell their story, when they are ready. > Allow them to be upset. > Ask them how they feel and actively listen to their reply. > Look for changes in their behaviour and ask them if you can help them find support. > Learn more about PTSD so you can better understand them. > Look after yourself and stay safe yourself. There you go, a VERY brief, very simple introduction to PTSD. Hopefully it has provided a basis from which you can now go and learn more, help yourself to heal faster and better support those with PTSD that you care about. Yours, in mental health, Si Brodie simon@circleoftrusttherapy.com / www.circleoftrusttherapy.com / @oxtherapy

PTSD: GARY HUNT

Wounded soldier finds peace beneath the waves When Help for Heroes opened its newest Recovery Centre in Plymouth in 2014, Gary Hunt was one of the first through the doors. A closed book, he had recognised he needed support, but had no idea how to move forward.

ow, Gary is actively involved in the Recovery Centre after being given the tools to help him rebuild his life. Gary, who lives in Plymouth, served with the Army Infantry from 1988 to 1992 in Northern Ireland. He has complex psychological issues, some of which are attributed to service, but his problems started long before his stint in the forces. As a child he suffered serious abuse. The military regime and the horrors he witnessed during tours brought his childhood memories to the surface. “At that time if you did anything wrong you were punished for it,” said Gary. I didn’t fit in for quite a while. I had voices in my head, nightmares and panic attacks. We experienced what felt like the worst of the worst to me. Anything that went bang or got shot at was usually us.”

Over twenty years of heartache followed, with Gary suffering severe depression, anxiety, constant mood swings and other psychological health issues. “I was practically an alcoholic. I was in trouble with the law. I wasn’t a very nice person. I didn’t know if I was coming or going,” said Gary. “I tried to kill myself what must have been 20 times.” It is only in the last couple of years that Gary has sought the help he has needed to look to the future. After moving between psychiatrists, he found a doctor who he feels comfortable with. “I was told that you have to help yourself for us to help you. It made sense. That’s around the time I joined Help for Heroes in Plymouth after being referred by my doctor. Going to the Recovery Centre, being able to talk to the lads and get involved in activities gets you away from day to day life and what’s going on in your head.” Gary was part of the Help for Heroes Gig Rowing team who competed in the World Pilot Gig Championships in the Isles of Scilly last year. More recently he has discovered a passion for scuba diving and has now completed a PADI Open Water and PADI Advanced Open Water course as part of the Plymouth Recovery Centre’s sports recovery programme. “Through the activities at the Recovery Centre I’ve realised I’m a water baby. Any activity on or in the water I adore. Being underwater makes you feel at peace. It’s a whole different experience to being on land. You see things that the majority of people will probably never see in their lives. The feeling of weightlessness and the new world around you seem to make the mental health issues disappear. “One of the other guys on the course said I was like a fish, born for I WAS TOLD THAT the water. Now I’m being YOU HAVE TO HELP called fish face. I was so confident underwater that YOURSELF FOR US I was supporting another TO HELP YOU. IT guy and he said he felt MADE SENSE.” like he trusted me. It felt great. I just need to keep diving. “If I didn’t have the support that Help for Heroes has given me I’d probably be dead; that’s the truth. When I left the Army it was a case of thanks and goodbye. I’d keep everything locked away. At one point I nearly ended up in a psychiatric hospital. The medication helps, the talks help, but I’m my own worst enemy. I can’t shut it out. It’s having something to relate to, somebody who’s been through it all, and something to focus on at that gets me through. The Plymouth Recovery Centre has given me that.”

“

> IMAGE:

(from left) Pete Botheras, Gary Hunt & Dave Kerton

PTSD: JASON WILKES

“I WANT PEOPLE TO THINK, ‘IF JASON CAN DO IT, SO CAN I’” In April 2006, Jason Wilkes was injured by a suicide car bomb in Iraq, Op TELIC, in Iraq. The explosion left him with burnt hands, shrapnel in his jaw and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). He had a year at home on sick leave to recover from his injuries. He returned to work at 38 Engr Regt which moved from Ripon to Northern Ireland and was present at Massereene Barracks during the shooting in 2009.

en years on, Jason still suffers from physical effects. He needs steroid injections to reduce scarring on his hands, and finds they suffer badly in cold weather, making it difficult to cope. However the biggest injury is PTSD. Jason’s character changed after 2009 incident. Normally he could deal with any frustrating elements in his life, but by September 2009 he found he was unable to control how he felt, and was becoming more angry and frustrated. His family had noticed the changes in his personality, and in October 2006 Jason decided to ask for help. He spoke with a CPN at Catterick DMHH which he found helped at that time. His condition became worse after the shooting of two soldiers at Massereene Bks 2009 where Jason tended to the injured soldiers and civilians. It took a further six years before Jason was diagnosed officially with PTSD. To finally have a diagnosis gave him the ability to take back control of his life. Jason now had the ability to help his own mind set. In order to cope day to

day with his PTSD, Jason focuses on sport and being with his family, especially his son. It helps clear his mind and Jason feels lucky to have such strong family support. “I am very lucky; some of the guy’s with PTSD don’t have a strong family support system to help them”. Jason had been a keen cricketer in his school years, playing for Peterlee Cricket Club. He had a desire to start playing again. One day while playing golf he was invited to North Hants to play cricket. Having not played for 20 years he was a little hesitant when asked to open the batting. Jason need not have worried, he scored 52 runs off 16 balls, but most of all, he was transported back to his childhood, and he had no worries, only positive memories. “When I don’t play either cricket or golf I find the depression can kick in. Sometimes I get up in the morning and before I know it, the day has gone. Also the nightmares start again; being active keeps this under control”. Because of his talent Jason and his family were invited to tour with the club in Barbados, and to captain the Help for Heroes cricket team. Jason

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leads by example helping people with a range of disabilities play as part of the team, in positions that suit their needs. Jason’s PTSD includes short term memory loss.His long term memory is fine, but he finds that he forgets things quite easily, like names. “Graeme Weeks from Durham County Cricket Board has been a massive help with my cricket. He coaches me, recognising that I easily forget things, so breaks down the instructions into small bites that I can keep repeating to myself, which help my game, such as remembering to play straight, and watch the ball. Although I know these, because of the memory issues I can sometimes forget”. Jason wants to inspire people with PTSD, hoping his story can help them get the support they need. “I want people to think, ‘if Jason can do it, so can I’”. Jason gives some great advice for those who may be struggling. “Drop the bravado, and seek help, getting the diagnosis can help you get better. Seek advice and don’t let the PTSD control you. You can control it by recognising your triggers and pre planning your day and activities to avoid these. You do not need to suffer in silence, not all injuries are visible, and getting help is not a weakness, it’s strength and will help you to understand yourself better, which will help you remain in control”. When asked what Jason’s proudest achievements are he answers “Teaching my son how to swim, and doing the Great North Run dragging a car tire to raise awareness about PTSD, something that had not been done before

PTSD: CHANGE STEP

CHANGE STEP MENTOR

-PHIL’S STORY From a very young age I wanted to be a soldier, all the male role models in my life including my father had served in the British Armed Forces. As soon as I turned sixteen I enlisted with the Armed Forces. Having served in Cyprus, Belize, Kenya and Northern Ireland I saw active service. Seeing this had a detrimental effect on my health and mental wellbeing. I left the Armed Forces in August of 1993 and was diagnosed with PTSD in 1997. During this time there was no support for me. I was a confused and angry young man. I was trained to be a soldier to meet violence with violence and to resolve conflict with violence. I was not de-trained, I didn’t have any support in becoming a civilian again. This, accompanied with PTSD resulted in a lengthy criminal record and a considerable amount of wrong choices. Having suffered with PTSD for some 20 years I finally realised that I couldn’t carry on living the life I had previously. So with this in mind I decided to turn things around and make some positive life changes. I feel that through my experiences I can help others, empowering them to help themselves. I think ex-service men and women deserve a support network when leaving the armed forces, having served their country I feel they’ve earned it – this is a passion of mine. With Change Step I feel both honoured and privileged to be involved and part of such a positive project.

A MENTEE’S STORY – SUPPORT LIKE ONLY ANOTHER VETERAN COULD I would like to take this opportunity to thank Phil and CAIS (Change Step) for the invaluable service that I have received so far. Having Phil and all the other support at the end of the phone is irreplaceable to me at the moment. Phil regularly calls me to touch base on where I’m up to and is always there when things get too much and I have to reach out, even when he probably doesn’t have to. Having Phil at the social services meetings has been an immense help. I’m not trying to insinuate anything here, but I feel I am treated differently by the professionals when he is not there and I now consider his attendance imperative to allow fairness to be applied for my children and myself. Phil has also attended the police station as my appropriate adult when needed and I’m sure without his help I would possibly be writing this from a prison library! My emotions can be quite hard to handle sometimes and Phil is almost always able to help me get them into check, as only another serviceman could. It must be quite frustrating for him sometimes as well, as I can tend to over complicate things. Nevertheless he is always patient, kind and considerate but as and when required he will also give me the proverbial boot up the backside, sometimes essential for me, although not always appreciated at the time! (Sorry and thank you in advance for the next one!!)

More recently, Phil gained access to some excellent advice with regards to getting me back into work. I have not long completed an engineering diploma, funding sourced from SSAFA, and thanks to the advice received have been able to start making things out of my shed with the support of benefits agencies etc. I currently make a few tables and am working on converting an antique safe into a wood burner. Being able to do this has a two-fold effect. Firstly it enables me to practice mindfulness which is essential to my recovery. Secondly it provides me with great hope that someday soon I may be able to get off benefits and start providing for my family properly. That’s all I really want in life. I attend the PTSD clinic once a month which whilst it is hard is also

a great opportunity to be around the lads. This encouraged me, on Phil’s advice, to get involved with volunteering for Remember our Heroes maintaining and cleaning up graves of ex-service personnel. I have only been out once doing this but it was nice to spend time with the lads and gave me a great sense of pride and achievement. I will therefore be attending as many as possible going forward. Soon I will be accessing psychological support from the NHS Veterans Wales service thanks to the referral from Phil Williams, Change Step. None of this would be possible if it were not for Phil and everyone else at CAIS so, again, I would like to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for what it is you do, you are all wonderful people.

What is Change Step? Change Step is a peer mentoring and advice service. This service is for military veterans who, through one reason or another, has struggled with transitioning back into Civvy Street and wants to make positive changes to their lives. The service is delivered by veterans for veterans and aims to support those seeking help for problems encountered as a result of military or operational duty. The programme offers peer support, training opportunities and signposting to relevant health and welfare services. Our sister project, Listen In, supports the signiﬁcant role families and friends of veterans play in promoting recovery from problems associated with military service and the transition to civilian life. The Listen In team will deliver mental health ﬁrst aid training and practical support to the families and friends of veterans.

Where is Change Step located? We have drop in centres across Wales. The drop-ins are a friendly place to meet with other veterans and a Change Step Peer Mentor.

www.changestepwales.co.uk

0300 777 2259

facebook.com/changestepwales

@ChangeStepWales

PTSD: MATT RAWLINS

Former Sailor finds his voice to propose A former sailor who was left a virtual mute for eight years after watching two of his comrades die in a training incident has finally found his voice - after falling in love. Matthew Rawlins, 37, was only able to speak properly for the first time again after meeting his partner Amy Fletcher, known as AJ, 28. He had lived with the horrors of PTSD since witnessing two fellow sailors drown after they had fallen overboard during a training exercise in the ice-cold Baltic Sea in 2002.

he subsequent years left him only able to communicate via hand signals as his muffles were inaudible. He even spent time living in a log cabin in his parent’s back garden after being medically discharged from the Royal Navy. But after suffering in silence he finally found the inner strength to begin speaking again, after meeting his now fiancée and love-of-his-life, across a Scout campfire. He said: “We hit it off instantly. It was an incredible moment and a life-changing one for me. I had spent eight years struggling with my speech and after any sign of progress I was being knocked back again. But when I met AJ everything just clicked. “She was the first person I had really been able to talk with and open

34 I FIGHT THROUGH I www.educationforthemilitaryfamily.org.uk

up to. She was gently asking questions and we took things slowly, but gradually my speech became fluent again. That was the defining moment for me. We were sat around the camp-fire from about 9pm to the early hours just talking, and we had so much in common.” The couple met in Plymouth in 2010 and got engaged in May last year. It has been a long road for Matt who was initially diagnosed with PTSD just two months after the training incident, and he also credits the charity Help for Heroes for playing a crucial role in aiding his recovery. He has now spoken for the first time about his remarkable journey and the battle to shed his inner demons. Struggling to deal with the horror of what he had seen, Matt, who had joined the Royal Navy in 1999, said they all initially coped in the only way they knew how.

“

I KNEW WHAT I WANTED TO SAY BUT NOTHING WAS COMING OUT OF MY MOUTH. IT WAS VERY FRUSTRATING AS I THOUGHT I WAS SPEAKING BUT OTHER PEOPLE COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT I WAS SAYING OR IF I WAS TALKING AT ALL.”

He said: “We used dark humour and alcohol as a way to try and forget. It was the wrong thing to do, but we coped as well as we could. We felt at the time we would be weak if we went to get help. Thankfully, because of the all the work done by Help for Heroes and Combat Stress, all of that has changed now and PTSD is a lot more recognised.”

But without that support available at the time, Matt attempted suicide a few months after the incident. The sailor was then taken to a military hospital and diagnosed with mixed dissociative and conversion disorders which resulted in severe muscular tremors and affected his speech so badly he was considered a mute. He said: “I knew what I wanted to say but nothing was coming out of my mouth. It was very frustrating as I thought I was speaking but other people could not understand what I was saying or if I was talking at all.” Matt eventually left the Navy in December 2005 but struggled to find regular work due to his condition. He said: “My speech had got so bad I had to do sign language to my parents. I would get night terrors and it got so bad that although my parents wanted to look after me - they knew if I stayed in the house they would not be able to cope. My father then built a log cabin for me in the back garden so I could live close enough to get help and they could make sure I was eating, sleeping and cleaning myself properly. “I am 100 per cent different after meeting AJ and getting all the support I have from Help for Heroes has been a huge part of that. I am now able to look after myself and speak again quite fluently. I definitely thought I would never be in this position and six years ago I would never have believed it was possible.”

> IMAGES: Matt Rawlins + AJ Fletcher, they met in Plymouth in 2010 and got engaged in May last year.

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HOUSING

A former army barracks near Salisbury Plain is being transformed into a unique housing project with homes fit for heroes. The site of the former Erskine Barracks near the village of Wilton will be turned into two new housing developments, Wilton Hill and Erskine Park, where families will live alongside veterans returning from conflict zones.

his unique project is the creation of regeneration and development specialists Our Enterprise who are working alongside Redrow Homes to create the UK’s first major housing development built with returning military personnel in mind. The £6.5million veterans complex will be the first purpose built community based campus for service veterans with homes and an innovative enterprise hub. It will serve both male and female veterans from all three services, from all age groups and backgrounds. It will comprise of 44 studio, one and two bedroom apartments which veterans will rent for a period of between six and 24 months while they receive business and skills training. They then move on to make room for another veteran. The hub will offer training and help for veterans to launch their own businesses and will sit alongside facilities for up to 60 other businesses, incorporating everything from start-ups to established companies. This will be the headquarters for where much of the veterans training and site operation will be delivered with meaningful training and employment opportunities. The veterans will have access to business skills training, employment resources and advice. The project is geared towards helping service veterans to make the move back into civilian life through enterprise rather than welfare. Full support will be offered on site with peer support and professional care. Over a tenyear period, it’s hoped the initiative will help over 300 vulnerable veterans successfully re-integrate into society through enterprise.

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The veterans’ campus will be delivered by Our Wilton Trust which has been formed as a charitable legacy company to deliver and maintain the veterans housing and crèche. Our Enterprise became involved in the project after they were approached by the Wilton Community Land Trust to develop plans for site after they became concerned the areas military heritage would be lost. CEO Matthew Bell listened to their concerns and agreed to help find a development partner who would tackle the project sympathetically. Our Enterprise agreed to partner with Redrow Homes to buy the two sites and plans for 292 family properties and 44 one and two bedroom flats for veterans have now been approved by Wiltshire Council. Work on the site has already begun and it is hoped the first veterans will be moving in around July 2017. It is Our Enterprise’s first major project aimed at helping returning veterans and CEO Matthew Bell said he wants to create a development which will make a lasting difference. He said: “When Wilton Community Land Trust came to me I immediately spotted an opportunity. The Erskine Barracks had been put up for sale and there were fears the site could be turned into a massive housing estate with little or no consideration about the area’s military heritage. I knew we had a unique opportunity to do something different. “It needed to be a genuine business opportunity for the builder, while at the same time offering an incredible opportunity to our military personnel returning from conflicts overseas.

> MAIN: An example of typical Redrow Homes / INSERT: Plans for 292 family properties and 44 one and two bedroom flats for veterans

“

...THE UK’S FIRST MAJOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT BUILT WITH RETURNING MILITARY PERSONNEL IN MIND.

“Within ten minutes of meeting the Redrow chief executive John Tutte, I knew we could make this work. “Redrow agreed to meet the Wilton Community Land Trust and the two, with our support, had some long conversations which led to the plans we all then submitted. “Between us we purchased the land and had the plans approved swiftly without the need for any additional costly and timely consultations. “I believe we have come up with a plan which will reinvigorate this community and transform many lives for the better.” Redrow, who are building 292 private homes within the two developments on the sites, have already started work with some homes complete and occupied. The properties at Erskine Park are due to be complete in autumn 2016, with final completions at Wilton Hill due summer 2017. The former military buildings have been demolished on the Our Enterprise part of the site which will include the veterans’ accommodation, enterprise hub, crèche and retail units. Construction is due to begin in Summer 2016 with a completion date set for July 2017.

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HEARING LOSS

TINNITUS AWARENESS WEEK TINNITUS / HEARING LOSS IN THE ARMED FORCES The UK’s Tinnitus Awareness Week runs from 8-14 February. Claire Roantree at Head of Serious Personal Injury at Simpson Millar Solicitors LLP provides timely guidance on this widespread, but little-understood, condition.

y the very nature of their profession, military personnel are exposed to so many different scenarios which may have an impact on both their physical and mental health. Combat, in particular, is one such area where risk of head trauma can be very high, particularly as soldiers are usually faced with an abundance of external noises caused by machine guns, mortars, bombs, artillery, heavy loud equipment/machinery, airplane engines and ship board machinery - usually without the benefit of hearing protection. Noise Regulations are in place, however, which require employers throughout the UK to manage any risk to their employees. This entails control, reduce and monitor any exposure to noise to ensure employee safety. The MOD also has annual mandatory hearing tests and strict guidelines and rules about wearing ear defenders. In the military, however, it is not always practical to wear ear protection. In light of this, it is important for military personnel and their families to be aware of tinnitus and what causes it. If identified early enough, then the better the chances of stopping the condition from worsening.

WHAT CAN CAUSE HEARING DAMAGE?

Resesarch states that any noise greater than 85 dB can lead to hearing damage and 120 dB can actually cause immediate hearing loss. An SA80 rifle, for example, reportedly produces upwards of 150 dB and can cause permanent damage to the auditory system resulting in tinnitus and / or hearing loss. In combat, one blast, for example, can cause tinnitus as a primary condition or a by product of hearing loss. Veterans develop hearing loss and tinnitus either immediately or as they become older.

WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF THE CONDITION?

Tinnitus is an invisible injury which can cause anxiety, depression, sleeplessness, exhaustion and poor concentration due to a constant piercing, screeching sound. It is to note that the hearing

system is one of the non-repairable parts of the body made up of delicate hairs and bone structures within the ear on the outside of the head, and a mass of interconnected nerves on the inside in the hearing part of the brain. Importantly also, hyperacusis is another hearing disorder, which can be experienced alongside hearing loss and tinnitus and where everyday noise like traffic or conversation are perceived as being disproportionately loud and is often associated with discomfort/pain. This condition can cause exacerbation of tinnitus with symptoms such as headaches, dizziness and sickness. It occurs as a result of the central auditory system becoming hyperactive as a result of auditory trauma or sometimes experiencing acutely negative emotional states.

WHAT TREATMENTS ARE AVAILABLE?

Various treatments are available to reduce but not cure symptoms such as sound therapy systems and conventional treatment which provides temporary relief at best. Most people are also encouraged to manage the condition with counselling and psychological therapy, CBT and masking devices that drown out the Tinnitus sounds, for example when trying to sleep. With hyperacusis, desensitization therapy is also offered by some clinics.

AND FROM A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE? >

Any claims can be brought against the MOD arising out of their breach of duty of care to provide sufficient training and suitably safe working environment. Claims can also be made under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme. > Civil claims for compensation must be made 3 years from the date of injury or accident. > Medical evidence of current hearing loss with or without Tinnitus and documented medical opinion from an Audiologist is required to show that this was more likely than not caused by exposure to environmental and / or combat related noise while on active duty.

Claims must be supported by relevant Military service history which includes evidence of exposure to noise i.e. one off or prolonged loud noises while on active duty. > Types of injury – acoustic shock caused by sudden unexpected high pitched high intensity sound which can lead to tinnitus, hyperacusis and other symptoms. > Compensation awards for the condition can range from slight tinnitus £5860.00 up to severe tinnitus with hearing loss £24,860.00 to £38,060.00. > Claims can also be brought for failure by your employer to provide employees with personal protective equipment.

HEARING LOSS

> MAIN:Luke Smith, Silverstone BSB Grid October 2015 / INSERT: BSB Cadwell Park 2015 - Ducati Trioptions Cup

LUKE SMITH Luke Smith was serving with the Parachute Regiment in Afghanistan when on the 14th June 2011 (hence his chosen race number of #146) he was involved in an IED explosion, which has left him with severe hearing damage. Luke is now completely deaf in his right ear and has severe hearing loss in his left. He also suffers with severe tinnitus, bouts of nausea and has had to overcome balance and disorientation issues caused by his sudden hearing loss. Although not obvious injuries like other members of True Heroes Racing, Lukeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s injuries are just as life changing as those who have lost limbs.

uke first became aware of True Heroes Racing during the 2013 race season, when he was already working within the British Superbike Championships as an electronics technician whilst on sick leave awaiting his discharge from the Army. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been around motorcycle racing for much of his life through involvement with teams ran by family and friends, as well as racing a little himself at a club level. Once Luke became aware of True Heroes Racing and what the team was achieving with injured Service personnel he approached them to offer

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his assistance on a technical front. Throughout the 2013 season, whilst still working for the Superbike team, Luke provided invaluable technical assistance to True Heroes Racing, who were also at the British Superbike Championships running double amputee, ex LCPL Murray Hambro, on a specially adapted Triumph Daytona motorcycle. He built up a great rapport with the rest of the team, who were also injured Service personnel. When the opportunity arose to expand the team for the 2014 race season, Luke was the obvious choice. Since 2014 Luke has competed alongside Murray at the British Superbike Championships for True Heroes Racing.

“

WE’RE NOT HERE TO WIN TROPHIES, ALTHOUGH ONE DAY THAT WOULD BE NICE! IF AT THE END OF A RACE EVERYONE HAS SMILES ON THEIR FACES THEN WE HAVE DONE OUR JOB.”

For Luke, being a member of True Heroes Racing has helped him with his transition out of the Army. He was eventually discharged due to his injuries in early 2015. For over 2 years, in the run up to his eventual discharge, Luke was able to regularly be around and mix with other injured Service personnel, facing the same challenges as himself. He was able to converse with likeminded people with an unprecedented level of understanding and respect, whilst also enjoying a return to the unique sense of humour found amongst UK military personnel. Being a member of the team has given him a tangible focus during the long months of his discharge process. This provided him with opportunities to enjoy exhilarating sporting activities.

In 2016, Luke is entering his 3rd season of racing with True Heroes Racing at the British Superbike Championships. For the first time, Luke will be riding in the Supersport 600 class for the team. This will be a huge challenge for the whole team, who will be competing against full factory backed teams. But as Team Manager, Phil Spencer, regularly reminds every member of the team, “We’re not here to win trophies, although one day that would be nice! If at the end of a race everyone has smiles on their faces then we have done our job.” Unfortunately, as any sportsman will know once the lights go green the mist descends and everyone wants to beat the guy in front!

Do you have trouble escaping from that constant noise in your head and need some help? The Tinnitus Clinic combines the latest acoustic devices and therapies that aim to reduce your stress and anxiety, improve your sleep and give you control over your tinnitus, day and night. We prescribe treatments including Acoustic CR® Neuromodulation and Tinnitus Desensitisation Therapy™, and the latest digital hearing aids programmed for tinnitus and hearing loss. Visit our website or call us to arrange the next step to your long-term relief from tinnitus.

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MOTABILITY

GETTING MOBILE WITH MOTABILITY Motability is the UK’s leading car scheme for disabled people. Since it was set up on the initiative of the government in 1978, it has provided millions of people with affordable, convenient, trouble-free motoring through the provision of a new car. Powered wheelchairs and scooters can also be financed through the Scheme. Motability’s car and wheelchair schemes currently provide freedom and independence to over 640,000 disabled people and their families, across the UK. The Scheme is directed and overseen by Motability, a national charity that also raises funds and provides financial help to customers who would otherwise be unable to join the Scheme.

HOW THE MOTABILITY SCHEME WORKS

As a unique and successful collaboration of the public and private sectors, the Motability Scheme enables disabled people to use their government-funded mobility allowances to lease a new car, Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV), powered wheelchair or scooter.

Customers can choose a brand new car from a selection of over 2,000 models, from the major manufacturers, on a three (or five-year lease for WAVs). Insurance, road tax, breakdown cover, servicing, tyre and windscreen replacement are all included in a single monthly payment. A similar all-inclusive hire plan is available for powered wheelchairs and scooters. Many cars are available simply by customers transferring their allowance to Motability for the period of the agreement. However, on larger or more expensive models, an additional payment (known as an Advance Payment) may be required.

42 I FIGHT THROUGH I www.educationforthemilitaryfamily.org.uk

WHO CAN APPLY?

The Scheme is available to anyone who is receiving one of the following benefits, and has at least 12 months award length remaining when they apply: > Higher Rate Mobility Component of

the Disability Living Allowance

> Enhanced Rate Mobility Component

of Personal Independence Payment Supplement > Armed Forces Independence Payment > War Pensioners’ Mobility

A parent or carer can apply on behalf of a child aged three or older and those who cannot drive can apply for a car as a passenger. Once their application has been accepted, the customer pays all, or part of their allowance to Motability for the duration of the contract hire agreement.

GETTING ON THE ROAD

Cars are supplied through a network of some 4,500 Motability Dealer Partners across the UK. There is also a national network of accredited retailers of powered wheelchairs and scooters.

For further information about the Motability Scheme, please telephone 0300 456 4566, or visit the Motability website at motability.co.uk

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BATTLE SCARRED

– FAMILIES AND RELATIONSHIPS IN THE ARMED FORCES Life in the Armed Forces places unique pressure on Britain’s servicemen and women and their families. Routine Service life, with its regular moves and postings and all the accompanying uncertainty, takes its own toll on relationships. However, during periods of conflict and operational deployment, ordinary stresses and strains are amplified.

S o l i c i t o r s

L i m i t e d

In the UK, more than 300 couples a day are getting divorced. However, the divorce rate among military couples is higher, fed by separations when the spouse is deployed. Hilary Meredith Solicitors is an award winning law firm, widely regarded as the UK’s leading military law firm. We take great pride in client care and recognize that a family problem is rarely simple. We understand that military life brings with it unique and intensive demands. It can bring frequent separation, relocations, risk of injury or death, long hours, changing work schedules and isolation from civilian society. These demands often happen at the same time and are not optional or negotiable for a serviceman; merely a requirement of their service. Yet it is not just the serviceman or women who

has to battle against these demands. Their entire family, their friends and loved ones all have to endure the difficulties and problems that are brought on by military life. This can place a strain on a relationship between a serviceman and his or her partner. For service personnel they must contend with the unique pressures of being a soldier. For the partner and family (often many miles away) they must contend with the ‘not knowing’ – the stress and worry of serious injury or worse. Not only is it impossible to hug or to hold a loved one, it is often problematic for a serviceman to even speak with or communicate with their family whilst fulfilling their duties. Both parties have to endure the lengthy, frequent periods of separation. Whilst the serviceman becomes accustomed to life on an army base, life continues for his family in the outside world. These oppose lifestyles can cause tension and resentment. It is therefore unsurprising to learn that a high proportion of relationships involving army personnel break down. Either the time apart becomes too much, or upon a serviceman’s return, they can find it difficult to become

“

HILARY MEREDITH SOLICITORS IS AN AWARD WINNING LAW FIRM, WIDELY REGARDED AS THE UK’S LEADING MILITARY LAW FIRM.

accustomed to life on civvy street and to integrate back into the family dynamic. Unfortunately it is not uncommon for servicemen to suffer problems with their mental health having witnessed at first hand the extremes of military combat. A mental illness is an incredibly complex illness and can place a great strain on a relationship. When a relationship comes to an end, it is often a very difficult and emotional time for all concerned. It is therefore imperative that the relationship can be dissolved without animosity and hostility, especially if there are children to consider. Due to the nature of the job of a soldier, it is vital that an agreement can be reached for a soldier to remain in regular contact with their children so that their positive relationship can be maintained. Hilary Meredith Solicitors excel in Personal and Family Legal Services having recently recruited specialist Family Solicitor, Paul Reay. At Hilary Meredith Solicitors you will be looked after by a specialist solicitor, who will dedicate his time to you and comprise the right solution that will give you comfort and peace of mind and will achieve the best possible outcome.

If you are contemplating a divorce or separation or experiencing difficulties with spending time with your children, Please call 01625 53 9922 in order to arrange a free consultation with Paul Reay. 46 I FIGHT THROUGH I www.educationforthemilitaryfamily.org.uk

On your side Hilary Meredith Solicitors is the UK’s leading military law firm. Specialising in all aspects of family law, we understand that life in the armed forces places unique pressure on family life. If you are contemplating a divorce or separation or experiencing difficulties spending time with your children, contact Paul Reay, Head of Family Law, for a FREE consultation – paul.reay@hmsolicitors.co.uk Other areas of advice include: Military legal claims – Armed Forces Compensation Scheme Claims Representation at Inquests – Wills Hilary Meredith Solicitors was the first UK law firm to commit to the Armed Forces Covenant.

www.hmsolicitors.co.uk

0800 124 4444

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Meredith House, 25-27 Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AR Central Court, 25 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1AL

Hilary Meredith Solicitors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority of England and Wales. SRA ID number: 561149.

ABF THE SOLDIERS’ CHARITY

“YOU’LL NEVER WALK AGAIN”

Lance Corporal Mark Harding, 1st Battalion Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, was shot in the neck by a Taliban sniper while on tour in Afghanistan in 2010. After being transferred back to the UK, he was told he was unlikely ever to walk again. However, just two years later, he climbed a mountain in the Lake District to raise money for ABF The Soldiers’ Charity and to inspire others facing life-changing injuries. This is his story… Mark has remarkably vivid memories of the incident in Afghanistan, but says he still isn’t sure whether that has been a ‘good or a bad thing’ in helping to push him to where he is today: “I remember everything... every detail. We were in the village, about 400m away from the platoon base on patrol, checking the walls and floor for IEDs. The locals started to move back in to their homes and close the doors, a sure sign to us something was going to happen. I remember looking back at my friend, Chris. He was hopping around shouting and screaming “My leg! My leg!” I rushed to him, and as I knelt down, I remember a massive bang. When I came to, I saw my friend Chris had been shot through his thigh. His femoral artery had been ruptured. I knew I had to help him, but I wasn’t able to move. I didn’t understand why, until my teammate

48 I FIGHT THROUGH I www.educationforthemilitaryfamily.org.uk

said ‘Mark I think you’ve been shot’.” Following emergency treatment at Camp Bastion, Mark was placed in a chemically induced coma and brought back to the UK. When he came out of the coma, he describes feeling like he was ‘imprisoned in an alien body’, unable to move but still with full mental capacity. His C5/C6 vertebrae had been shattered and some sections of his spinal cord had been damaged; he was given the diagnosis of incomplete tetraplegia: “It seems just like yesterday, seeing the two consultants come back into the room and close the door behind them. They delivered the most traumatic news we’d hoped never to hear: ‘Mark we’ve looked at the extent of your injuries and we’ve both come to the decision that you’ll never walk again’.” During his rehabilitation at Headley Court, Mark was confined to a wheelchair, something the access to his house wasn’t designed to easily accommodate. This meant that his wife had to constantly travel down to Headley Court to see him until the house was made more suitable. The Soldiers’ Charity stepped in with two grants for essential adaptations to the garage and pavement area outside his home. This was life-changing for Mark as he was able to move back home during his rehabilitation and spend more time with his wife. However, Mark also credits the Charity with providing a more intangible level of support throughout his road to recovery: “It’s not just the work on the house they helped me with. I’m incredibly lucky and privileged to have met two great people through the Charity [two staff from our North West regional office], whom I now call friends. They were always on the end of the phone if I needed to talk about anything, no matter the time. They gave me their friendship and emotional support, and for that I will be eternally gratefully to them, and of course the Charity.” Despite his injuries, Mark was determined to retain his fit and active lifestyle and, since receiving the life-changing diagnosis described above he has defied medical belief. In 2012, just two years after his injury, he climbed Skiddaw – the 6th highest peak in the Lake District – and a year later, represented Great Britain at a Dragon Boat World Championship. He has also set up his own motivational company, Bionic Motivation, and is now an established public speaker.

The Soldiers’ Charity is proud to have been there for Mark in his time of need. Their support extends to soldiers and veterans of all cap badges and conflicts, working tirelessly to ensure that all individuals and their families are afforded the independence and dignity they deserve. Find out more at: soldierscharity.org

> PICTURED OPPOSITE: Andy Garthwaite,

injured in Afghanistan in 2010 and welfare beneficiary of The Soldiers’ Charity

soldierscharity.org

ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, the British Army’s National Charity since 1944. We help thousands of soldiers, former soldiers and their families each year. It is thanks to the continued support of people like you that we are able to be there, year after year, for all those who need us.

Text ARMY8 to 70004 and send us a £3 donation. Increase your donation by texting ARMY8 £5 or ARMY8 £10.* Thank you for your kind support.

*Text costs your donation amount plus network charge. ABF The Soldiers’ Charity receives 100% of your donation. Obtain bill payer’s permission. Customer care 020 7901 8900

SSAFA

“

THE SSAFA STAFF MAKE NORTON HOUSE A HOMEFROM-HOME,” ROB SAID. “THEY ARE AMAZING. I SHALL NEVER FORGET THE SUPPORT MY FAMILY AND I RECEIVED.”

While serving in Afghanistan in 2012, Captain Rob Cromey-Hawke sustained life-changing injuries when the vehicle he was travelling in drove over an Improvised Explosive Device. Having served in the British Army for 12 years as both a soldier in the Parachute Regiment and a commissioned officer in the Royal Engineers he found himself coming to terms with the results of a traumatic brain injury, back and spinal cord injuries and hearing loss.

ver the following 16 months as he began the long rehabilitation process, Rob, now 32, was admitted seven times to the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court in Surrey. Each visit lasted for around four weeks. The centre provides the best possible medical care for members of the Armed Forces, but it was a long way from Rob’s partner Karen and two teenage sons, who live in North Yorkshire. At a

time when Rob needed his family most, they were separated by more than 200 miles. In addition, travel was exceedingly limited for Rob, as he was unable to use public transport or travel in a car due to his injuries. Fortunately Karen, a deputy head teacher, was able to spend weekends at a nearby home-fromhome run by SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity. SSAFA’s two Norton Homes, based at Headley Court and Birmingham, provide free accommodation and

50 I FIGHT THROUGH I www.educationforthemilitaryfamily.org.uk

support for the family members of wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women when their loved one is under-going treatment at either Headley Court or the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Karen was assured of a warm, supportive environment each weekend at Norton House where she could rely on the support of SSAFA’s expert staff and share experiences and mutual support with other families in a similar situation. “Thanks to SSAFA, Karen was able to stay nearby each time,” explained Rob. “This helped reduce the stress and anxiety that distance puts on a relationship when you’re apart for long periods, as well as giving Karen the chance to speak to the medical staff treating me.” The first Norton House opened in February 2008 following an incredible response to SSAFA’s urgent appeal for funds and it was closely followed by the second house at Selly Oak. Armed Forces families often have to travel great distances to visit their loved ones when they are at the military treatment centres and finding suitable accommodation can cause added stress at a difficult time. SSAFA’s Norton Homes allow parents, partners and children to spend quality time with a family member when they are being treated for serious and life-threatening injury or illness. “The SSAFA staff make Norton House a home-fromhome,” Rob said. “They are amazing. I shall never forget the support my family and I received.”

For more information visit www.ssafa.org.uk

PROVIDING FRONTLINE SUPPORT FOR OUR FORCES

SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity charity, provides lifelong support to Regulars and Reserves, who are serving or have ever served in the Royal Navy, British Army or Royal Air Force. We also provide support to their families.

CALL 0800 731 4880 ssafa.org.uk

@SSAFA

TRAVEL

International Travel: A QUICK GUIDE

We all love this time of year, when we start planning our holidays, dreaming of the sun filled days, lazing by a pool, and visiting amazing new places. The question is does being disabled restrict you to holidaying only in the UK? We would say “No, it does not.” This is a quick guide to help you when travelling abroad and to help ensure you have all you need whilst on your holidays. As with all things, prior planning prevents poor performance, and with some prior planning you can enjoy your summertime holiday knowing your individual needs are met at your chosen destination.

TRAVEL

Your disability may determine the mode of travel you choose to undertake. Here are some questions you should ask before you book.

FERRIES

There are some fantastic destinations in Europe that are easily accessible by ferry. Before choosing your destination, look at the facilities available at the ports, both home and abroad. For example, do they have disabled access? Are ramps and lifts available at the ports? And of course, do they have a disabled toilet available? You can check this information not only through a tour operator but through the port’s own website. If the information is not readily available make a phone call to each port. Find out about facilities on board. Is there a ramp to get you onto the deck? How wide are the doors for restaurants and bars? And again do they have a toilet that has wheelchair access?

FLYING

To go further afield you may need to fly. Take note of the length of flight required to your chosen holiday destination, this could be the deal breaker. At the airport, both home and abroad, look and ask about the many facilities that are available, for example, you may have lifts, ramps and disabled toilets in the UK, but in some countries they are not as disability friendly. Again use the internet to check out the destination airport facilities, as when you return home the last thing you need is to find you are stuck downstairs on the concourse while the rest of your travel companions are up a flight of stairs at the bar. On the plane, we all know that the toilets on board are tiny, a quick call to the airline should give you the information on what they have available

52 I FIGHT THROUGH I www.educationforthemilitaryfamily.org.uk

and how they can help you whilst on the flight. This is where knowledge of the flight length comes in useful. Every traveller is now well versed in the advantages of flight socks for longer flights, however, even on a shorter flight we would recommend a disabled person using them. If you are a lower limb amputee, just as feet swell, so will your stump. It may be worth a chat with your GP to see if he has any further advice whilst flying for your individual needs.

HOTEL AND EXCURSIONS

Looking at the hotel website and conversations with your tour operator will help ensure your accommodation has the facilities to make your stay comfortable. You know your individual needs so take ownership of the research and the questions you need to ask finding out all relevant information before you book. If, for example, you struggle with PTSD, it may be worth requesting a ground floor room with access to the outside patio rather than balcony, ensuring you can see your exits. Also if some of your triggers are loud noises, look for relaxing family hotels, which should hopefully avoid late night shouting and banging of doors, which could be very unsettling. When looking at the excursions, again find out about the destination, what the terrain is like, how long is the coach ride from your hotel, and what is available on the coach that will help your situation? When you arrive at that pretty little village, can you easily access all it has to offer? Again, website searches should give you the information you require.

DISABILITY FRIENDLY HOLIDAYS

Thankfully there are some amazing holiday companies that offer bespoke holidays abroad for people with disabilities. These companies will ensure your needs are met, and you can choose from a wide range of destinations and budgets. These holidays are specialised, and well worth taking the time to look into.”

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GAME REVIEW

FALLOUT 4

> IMAGES: Various scenes and in-game play from Fallout 4. Credit: Bethesda

The long awaited sequel to the Fallout franchise arrived on November 10th 2015 to the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC bringing with it a whole new area of the post-apocalyptic United States to explore. Boston. If you were a fan of the previous games Fallout 3 and New Vegas, then Fallout 4 is more of the same. This open world role playing game will keep you entertained for hours.

allout 4 is set in a world that has been plagued by nuclear war for 200 years. Groups of people descended underground to escape the bombs and your character was one of them. Eventually, two centuries later the vault reopens and your character is free to roam the apocalyptic world. This world is different; It is filled with radiation and mutated creatures. You can travel alone or with a companion, depending on your play style. The Art style is typically Fallout-esque. Dirty, and dark, but with a small touch of brightness, the world becomes beautiful again. The capabilities of the current gen consoles and pcâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mean that Fallout 4 can encompass so much more than its predecessors. Everything you find in the game now has a purpose. Tin cans and even teddy bears can be useful, so prepare for being unable to run due to being overloaded with junk. You can always trade with your companion in order to lower the weight. The radio music in Fallout 4 is catchy. The over world music is intense yet relaxing. Wearing headphones for that surround sound experience can

be incredibly rewarding, by allowing the player to completely immerse themselves in the Fallout world. Using the Pip-Boy (A smartwatch type accessory) the player can discover radio stations, distress signals and settlement recruitment stations. This helps to progress your exploration of the world by leading you to potentially undiscovered locations. Your character in Fallout, has no level cap. Meaning, you can keep levelling up your character to have super health and stamina and unlock perks. The perk system allows you to upgrade your characters abilities, for instance unlocking the lock pick perk fully enables you to pick master level locks, with an unbreakable bobby pin. If you wanted a perk to make your gameplay more fun, then the bloody mess perk allows you to make your enemies explode into a bloody mess when killed, eyeballs and blood everywhere! Overall, Fallout 4 is an immersive, indulgent game that will keep you wanting to play more for weeks, with an average completion time of 50-60 hours. This game is highly recommended, receiving 9.5â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s from IGN, 9/10 from GameSpot and has been nominated for many game of the year awards.

54 I FIGHT THROUGH I www.educationforthemilitaryfamily.org.uk

THE ADVANTAGES OF FALLOUT ARE: > Extensive open world to explore freely. > Can keep playing long after the main story has finished. > Escape from normal life and enter a new reality. > No level cap, can unlock every perk. THE DISADVANTAGES ARE: explosions and gunfire. > Some frame rate and performance issues on the PlayStation 4. > Blood,

UNTIL DAWN

PlayStation 4’s exclusive title Until Dawn, is a game suitable for players who are searching for an intense survival horror experience. Until Dawn is the perfect addition to any horror fanatics game collection. This 3rd Person horror is packed with jump scares, perfect for an experienced player or a novice. Published by Sony Computer Entertainment, developed by Supermassive games, this surprise hit of 2015 is one that you don’t want to miss.

he game begins in 2014, when 10 friends take a trip to Blackwood Pines lodge. After an eventful night, the group splits up and the game resumes one year later when the characters are invited to an annual get-together at the lodge. This is where the game really begins; you are now tasked with controlling each character’s story including how they move, what they find and moral dilemmas. Early on, you will be taught about the importance of your actions and how these can change the story dramatically. The game quickly tasks

you with making decisions for the characters and teaches you about the butterfly effect. This principle can alter the gameplay depending on what you choose, the smallest decision at the beginning of the game can seriously change a large event later on. Until Dawn features graphics appropriate for the game’s genre, dark, detailed and realistic. The characters were created using motion capture technology allowing the developers to mould the actor’s facial expressions and movement, resulting in unique yet relatable characters.

The characters look and feel like the actors who play them also, for instance you may recognise famous faces such as Hayden Panettierre (Heroes) and Remi Malek (Night at the museum trilogy). While the graphics are detailed, the sound of the game is very minimalistic and comes from natural sources, with crows screeching, the cold wind howling or your feet crunching into the snow. Atmospheric music is used effectively to heighten your senses before a jump, scare, or an important cut scene. Don’t always trust the music, like a true horror

“

UNTIL DAWN OFFERS SOME OF THE MOST GRIPPING STORY LINES SEEN IN A HORROR BASED GAME...

game sometimes the sound is used as a trick, once the music has faded out and you relax your guard the dramatic event will occur. Overall this game offers many alternative scenes and character storylines based on what you decide giving the game great replay potential, although you will need to completely restart the story if you happen to kill off your favourite character by mistake. Until Dawn offers some of the most gripping story lines seen in a horror based game, and so this game is highly recommended by the Fight Through Team.

AC Syndicate The latest incarnation of Assassins Creed has a lot to make up for. Not “live up to”. Make up for. After the rampaging, pirate themed fun that was Black Flag, the predecessor to this instalment (AC Unity) seemed almost a step back. Unity was good, with some new ideas, and an almost oil-painting-like beauty, as opposed to the more cartoony Black Flag, but it lacked something. That something is back in spades with Assassins Creed Syndicate. Graphically this is the most ambitious AC yet - from the start the gritty, Victorian dystopia draws you in. The character animations, smoky London skyline, soot-blackened buildings reflecting in the puddles of the cobbled streets, are all beautifully rendered. Confinement to just one city once again, as in Unity, rather than sailing the oceans in Black Flag, does at first feels like returning to previous formulaic AC games. Introducing some new game mechanics and characters, however, ensures Syndicate will hold your interest. The much lauded, slightly Batman-a-like, “grappling-hook”

feels like a natural and often integral addition to gameplay, rather than just a tacked-on gimmick. The train hideaway is inexplicably cool (who doesn’t love sword fights on top of a train?). Then there’s “the twins”, Evie and Jacob Frie - Syndicate’s protagonists. Seemingly an attempt to flog a dead horse in a slightly different way, the dynamic between these siblings actually provides humour, drives the plot, and works well. Jacob is the fight first, sneak later alpha-male, whereas Evie is equally tough, but forward-planning and the more stealthy of the pair. Character development and simultaneous levellingup of both in tandem, but with specialist

perks for each, reflects and accents their individual styles. While there are still glaring flaws (the free-running mechanic is closer to Unity, feeling clumsy at first, forcing decent amounts of practice to master, opposed to the ‘point-and-run-at-it’ technique of Black Flag); like when the intended victim escapes, in a disjointed chase mission - Syndicate will doubtless see some controllers hurled across the room as you once again plummet to your death on the cobbles. Or the usual nit-picking - seemingly blind crowds of NPCs, the “Mission Feedback” which feels like a constant BETA test, and long load times. Yet you can easily ignore all this as you’re romping around 1860’s London, dressed in a period Steampunk top-hat, and grappling up the face of Big Ben. Offering hours of fun, endless amounts of side quests, and mainly excellent story-telling, featuring beloved literary figures from British history, this is a welcome return to form for Assassins Creed.

GAME REVIEW

> IMAGES: Various scenes and in-game play from Uncharterd; The Nathan Drake Collection. Credit: Naughty Dog

Uncharted; the Nathan Drake Collection.

Uncharted; the Nathan Drake Collection is an assembly of the previous console titles in the franchise. There are 3 games on one disc, Drakes Fortune, Among Thieves and Drakes Deception, and all have been reformatted from their previous PlayStation 3 graphics and controls, to meet the standards of the PlayStation 4.

he release of the Uncharted Collection allows players who didn’t experience the adventure when it was first released to play it now, on PlayStation 4 in anticipation of the release of Uncharted 4; A Thief’s End in April. The Uncharted games are driven by a story. The story of a treasure hunter, Nathan Drake, whose mission it is to uncover the mysteries of the world’s most legendary explorers. The Uncharted games are linear experiences, meaning that they follow a certain path, a specific story, unlike open world games in which you can control your destiny. The movement of the character is reminiscent of Assassins Creed games, with similar puzzles and exploring styles although it doesn’t feel repetitive or boring. The landscape is gorgeous, making you want to step back and take in where you are in the game. Fight your way through fierce jungles, cruel caves and terrifying tombs in order to

discover the obscurities left throughout history. While the uncharted games have many great qualities, like with any game, it isn’t without its flaws. For instance, when attempting to take cover behind a rock or crate the character will occasionally have difficulty hiding, or will suddenly pop up out of cover resulting in death. The unarmed combat can be its own challenge, due to the requirement of pressing certain buttons at specific times and having no prompts other than a slight slow-motion to guide you. These slight annoyances do not detract from the overall enjoyment of the games. The uncharted collection houses 3 fantastic stories to follow. Uncharted is one of PlayStation’s most beloved exclusive franchises created by developer Naughty Dog, whose credits include the Last of Us and Crash Bandicoot. This collection is highly recommended if you are in need of a break from first person shooters, open world games and just need to experience an exceptional story.

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THE ADVANTAGES OF UNCHARTED; THE NATHAN DRAKE COLLECTION ARE: > No unexpected explosions.. > Quick Story. THE DISADVANTAGES ARE: awkward controls.

> Occasionally

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A NOTE OF ENCOURAGEMENT

My name is Graham Hendley. In 1973 I was involved in a road accident that left me paralysed from the neck down. After leaving hospital, I spent the next 10 years living at home with my parents. I needed intense care, my Mum and Dad had to do so much. Too much.

efore my accident I worked hard and played hard. Suddenly there was nothing. There was nothing to get up for. I seemed to spend all my time watching pointless programmes on TV or people doing things that I used to enjoy. I was in a state of total despair, as if I had fallen down a massive black hole with no way out. In 1985 we tried a two week restpite care break at Greenacres, a Leonard Cheshire home which was a great success and I immediately applied for a residential place. During other stays I came to know one of the

> ABOVE: Graham’s friend and mentor John with some of his extraordinary work.

colourful residents called John Bunce. John had also broken his neck in an accident whilst serving in the army, 20 years before me. John was a mouth painter. He had a room at Greenacres, which he had made into an art studio where he created the most magnificent paintings. I soon found myself spending most of my time sitting talking and watching John, amazed at what he could do. Never for a moment did I think I could do the same. A year later a residential place became available for me and I never looked back. John was gracious enough to let me share his studio and encouraged me to buy an easel and have a go. John suggested I start by sketching a picture that appealed to me, in pencil. I found a picture of an old farm gate down a country lane and apprehensively started to draw. I must say I was pleasantly surprised. I had never bothered much in the art classes at school. I spent most of the next year merrily painting away, enjoying my time in John’s Company whilst he taught me perspective and how to mix colours. John was a member of the Mouth And Foot Painting Artists Association. It’s an amazing organisation that helps to support severely disabled artists worldwide who wish to paint. The association was established by Erich Stegmann in 1957, a highly accomplished German artist with severe disabilities. John eventually thought it was time to introduce me to the MFPA. The association asked me to send

58 I FIGHT THROUGH I www.educationforthemilitaryfamily.org.uk

them six paintings. It took a year to finish them and a great deal of hard work and concentration. My jaw and neck muscles cried out with pain. But it was worth it! It was so good to have finally achieved something again. Through the MFPA I’ve taken part in many art exhibitions across the country even at the Royal College of Art. It has enabled me to meet some of the most wonderfully talented artists and friends, like the incredible Tom Yendell. I have great respect for our Armed Forces. They are the bravest of the brave. I know that with the nature of their profession they will all be of strong character. I would like to encourage them by saying. I have been there. It takes time to come to terms with your situation, some take longer than others. You have to stop thinking about what you can’t do and start thinking about what you can. With today’s technology, so many things are possible. Ten years ago I met Roger and his team from SMILE who helped me to find the right technology to achieve as much as my body would allow me. He thought out of the box and we need more people like him. If possible, try to be positive and cheerful and try to find an interest, mine happened to be art. I wish you all the very best, luck and good fortune. Life can go on.

Best wishes, Graham Hendley Leonard Cheshire Disability www.leonardcheshire.org Tel: 020 3242 0200 MFPA: Mouth and Foot Painting Artists www.mfpa.uk Tel: 020 7229 4491 Smile Smart Technology Ltd. www.smilesmart-tech.com Tel: 01635 37550

Finding long-term employment is one of the biggest challenges facing wounded servicemen and women hoping to lead a normal life after severe injury. Walking With The Woundedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s aim is to support all veterans with physical, mental or social injuries to gain the skills and qualifications required to develop new careers outside the military, re-integrate into society and provide long-term security for themselves and their families. Challenge your team of four to compete against our wounded beneficiaries and expedition team members in the Lake District. Every team supports another veteran back into work.

With your help we aim to raise enough funds through the 2016 Cumbrian Challenge to support a further 200 wounded veterans back into employment.

We keep co ming back to this event as it is an excelle n t challenge with clear o utcomes su p p orting veterans w ho have wa lk e d in far more difficu lt locations th a n this. Undertakin g the event with work colleagues is great fun and helps to build our own interna l professiona l relationsh ips Glen Pilkin gton, Head of HR & Learning and Develo pment, AEGIS Lon don

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