I am extremely blessed to have been selected to receive funding from TeamForces, an incredible organisation that raises funds for sport, challenge and adventure in the armed forces community.
The support I am receiving is paramount to my expedition going forward and I am delighted that Team Forces will be my official Presenting Partner on my impending Everest climb. Its whole purpose is to improve the health, well-being and recovery of those in the British armed forces and assist military elite athletes to compete at their highest level.
Sport, challenge and adventure are critical to the morale, motivation and wellbeing of our forces, but from my own experience it is often expensive. Team Forces conducts fundraising, attracts sponsorship and makes financial grants to enable these activities to be more accessible by reducing the cost of participation. And, they have done this for me and for that I am deeply indebted to the financial support provided.
Anyone who's ever trained and completed a sporting challenge (e.g ironman, trek across the desert, trail run through Alaska), will know the sense of achievement is something very hard to put into words. Firstly, the training gives purpose, discipline and focus to someone’s life. And, secondly when you reach the finish and achieve what you set out to do, there's an enormous sense of realisation that you're able to do anything you set your mind to.
Going through tough conditions and pain proves you are alive and helps you be more grateful for the life you have and the people you share it with.
Every challenge I have undertaken, I feel stronger, more thankful and more blessed for the life I have.
Thank you so much Team Forces, what you do for others is a wonderful thing, and what you are doing for me will help make a wider social impact for people with disabilities. This climb isn’t about my own personal achievement it is about highlighting the collective achievements of many people with disabilities and proving whatever card you are dealt in life it doesn’t have to be life limiting.
You are helping me to remove the ‘dis’ prefix from disability and and focus on ability. Thank you for that!