Ex-soldier from Inverness to run in aid of his comrades
AN Inverness prison officer is taking part in the Great North Run later this year for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) – while pushing a friend in a wheelchair.
John Brown served two tours of Northern Ireland with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers and witnessed the horrors of war in Bosnia while in the Army in the 1990s.
It was not until 2013 that the 45-year-old from Hilton was diagnosed with PTSD and now he is hoping to raise some money for Combat Stress – a charity which supports service veterans with mental health difficulties.
“I’ve a friend who was in the regiment with me and he phoned me to tell me I will be pushing him in his wheelchair at the Great North Run [in Newcastle on September 8],” Mr Brown said.
His boyhood pal Mike Jones is waiting for a heart bypass but is not ready to go through the operation yet. He wanted to become involved in helping the charity which is looking for teams to run in the event and raise funds.
“We grew up together in Buckley, North Wales and both joined the fusiliers,” Mr Brown said. “When he phoned me I thought he was joking. But I realise it will be good for me and give me something to aim for and also help some of my comrades who are going through the same as me.”
Mr Brown said after his army career he worked in various jobs and had spells of unemployment due to his condition.
He has been in the prison service for six years but sometimes has had to take time off due to his mental health.
“The things I witnessed were pretty horrendous,” he said. “I was only diagnosed after I started in the prison service when I realised I needed help and now the therapy is ongoing. I talked to a psychologist at first and it began to open up emotions which have been troubling me for years and I couldn’t control.
“On numerous occasions I have felt suicidal and I know many of my comrades who have taken their own lives.”
Combat Stress can provide a range of services to ex-service personnel.
“Veterans are getting fast-tracked to the top of the list for psychology and psychiatric support,” he said. “I had been running for a while but often would stop because of PTSD. But when Mike contacted me it really motivated me to get running again and it is great therapy.”
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