Testimonials

I had a preconception of turning up for the trip that I had been on.

Aprihention and anxious of spending 11 days out of my safe space and comfort zone of my little bubble at home. Was put at ease from minute dot.

The group of lads and the TL had put me at ease because we were all in the same boat.

Story's were shared and experiences that I thought only I had gone through were quickly thrown out the window, as most of the benifieries have/had or are going through the same circumstances as I am.

To be around a group of like minded individuals has opened my eyes to "you are not alone on your journey" and that would never of happened without Vetrun180.

I can honestly say that the purpose and mantra of VetRun180 has and will continue to save lives of our broken and forgotten veterans.

If it doesn't challenge you , it "most certainly" won't change you.

And this was proved and tested on many occasions over the 11 days, all for the better.

So a personal thank you to the TL and the rest of the guys and VetRun180.

Jay.

I attended the 22nd-27th Feb exped. When I first arrived at the airport and met everyone it was relaxed and we all clicked. Everything was well planned and stress free, even when we arrived at Sweden.

Every day was different and had its own challenge, I personally enjoyed sleeping in the igloo and will never forget that. Each day the TLs gave us daily and evening briefs and were all over the welfare of the blokes. They constantly made sure we felt ok physically and mentally, they were always available if I had a wobble, needed some reassurance or a hug.

I highly rate this trip and would happily do this again and recommend Vetrun to anyone who needs help. I honestly feel this has helped me clear my head and realise that I am not alone.

Thank you everyone!

Kenny - VetRun180 - Beneficiary

If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you!

Took me a little while to calm down and reflect on the trip , still processing the magnitude of information from the experience, certainly has been the most fun , emotional and overwhelming journey experience of my life , spiritually and mentally both on a superficial and on a deeper level that as time goes by the finer details are emerging from the effort that was made by , Ross , mack , Ben , Thomas and the rest of the men and women involved.

I'm finding it hard to put it into words the gratitude I'm feeling right now but I just want you all to know how much this has meant to me and the positive effects it had already had in my outlook towards my attitude and life in general , iv had problems with a lot of things mh , alcohol , anger etc you know the score but I feel purged from it all and happy that the "180" has been for me very effective.

Thank you to the charity for changing lives not only the direct participants but the wider effected also friends family etc

I love you all and thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Drew - VetRun180 - Beneficiary

If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you!

Where to start with what can only be described as a dream , the amount of memories, fantastic moments and experiences condensed into 7 days is something I never thought possible , a whole lap of Portugal , from the highest peak or Torre to the clear waters and crashing waves of Nazare the in the Atlantic Ocean home to the greatest surfers in the world , as a keen surfer myself this place to me was so meaningful and will forever echo in my memories .

We traveled across green pastures and flat lands of rice fields spotting stalks and a mongoose to almost desert like conditions inches to the borders of Spain where fire ants would prove that no obstacle is too small for them to overcome.

The group were extremely enthusiastic, friendly and hospitable along with the DS team who were very well organised , experienced , well mannered and professional .

What an honour and a distinct privilege to spend share this time with each and every one of these amazing individuals who came together as strangers and are now leaving as friends and brothers .

Huge thank you to VetRun, beneficiaries ,DS and those hard at work behind the scenes who are hard at work making a difference, changing the perspectives attitudes to on a path to a better life.

It was a challenge and it certainly did make a change ❤️

Drew - VetRun180 Chef - Beneficiary

If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you!

VETRUN 180 takes you away from the strains and pressures of the day to day battles of PTSD. You’re among friends that have the same goal and the same desire, to overcome what haunts us each day. VETRUN allows you to speak to likeminded people without the fear of being judged. The expeditions give you a huge sense of achievement. You can once again feel alive and at the end of the journey achieve something that makes you feel proud. The main thing I have taken away from VETRUN 180, I am not alone, I have a new family of friends that understand how I feel and are non-judgmental . The expedition has given me treatment that far exceeds that of any in a clinical environment. I hope to take part again in one of the VETRUN 180 expeditions or to help others get involved in VETRUN 180.

Vetrun180 are delivering an excellent opportunity for former service personnel from a wide spectrum of conflicts to do something which harps back to their former life in the military. Challenge, team work, living outdoors and having a good laugh. Great trip in good company.

Having left the Marines in the last two years, rehabilitation prior to that, social anxiety, physical inuries coupled with PTSD, I felt very nervous for about two weeks building up to the trip day, when I met the lads it was like being back in the Marines again; the banter was non stop a brilliant team of lads from various in the military and we all bonded straight away.
Matt is a relaxed bloke and that has helped a lot. We have all been through similar things in life. I of course was the best looking in the Team haha, in Summary there has not been a venture like this and I experienced a superb week of laughs, challenges and every person was someone I would stand side by side in a battle zone again.

The expedition was a great chance to not only vary my physical rehabilitation, but spend some time around other veterans for a while. It was a sort of ‘release valve’ from the mundane day-to-day life of civvy street. It was great to be working as a team again, with lads that I’d only just met days before. And seeing them approach all the problems we encountered with the enthusiasm and positivity that they used to have.

I am a former Royal Marines Commando having served for 11 years, and soon to be retired Police Officer serving for 23 years.
Up until a few years ago I was pottering along nicely. Then my physical health started to deteriorate, my legs started to falter and I had several operations on both my ankles and knees all service related. These operations left me with limited mobility, which meant I had to change my mindset when it came to physical fitness.

I was then diagnosed with severe Asthma. This has had a profound effect on me but again I have managed to adapt my lifestyle in order to control my symptoms.
Then the pandemic hit. Due to my severe Asthma I was classed as vulnerable. Unfortunately I caught Covid and became very ill. I was hospitalised and spent 3 weeks in hospital. I was very lucky to survive and contracted double pneumonia on the back of Covid. After being discharged from hospital and returning home I unfortunately didn’t get better and was eventually diagnosed with Long Covid. It wasn’t long after this that my mental health started to deteriorate. I became agoraphobic and suffered with anxiety and depression, and subsequently diagnosed with PTSD.

It has been a long struggle for me, but a friend of mine told me about VetRun 180. I applied to go on a trip to Sweden and was lucky enough to be selected.
I spent 5 days snowmobiling around Swedish Lapland. The trip itself was absolutely amazing. I was also very very lucky to spend time with some amazing people who I now class as friends.
There is no pressure, nobody judges you, and everyone was willing to listen…. This is better than any therapy!!

Amazing destination, amazing group of people, amazing charity. Thank you VetRun180 for giving me one of the best weeks of my life and hopefully setting me back on the path to good times….

Andy - VetRun180 - Beneficiary

Without sounding dramatic, VetRun has saved my life twice!

You really won’t understand what it has done for me. I’ve gone from a crying bumbling mess back in October to me seeing the invincibility I once had.

Looking at the blokes from afar, I saw it in them too!