Forces veteran takes on 500-mile challenge for charity

Chris McDowell (39), a maintenance technician at Tesco, is taking on the 500-mile challenge to highlight the struggles veterans face after leaving the forces.

Fundraising for veterans’ mental health charity Combat Stress, he will walk the majority of the way but has added three cycling legs to up the difficulty.

He started on June 11 and will average 36 miles a day, stopping at 19 Tesco stores along the way to talk to colleagues about their own mental health before arriving at the supermarket chain's headquarters in Welwyn Garden City on Armed Forces Day, June 25.

Chris, who served for 20 years in the RAF, said: “Having faced my own mental health challenges, this is something I feel really passionate about.

"Combat Stress has been a tremendous support for so many veterans.

“The medicine ball represents the mental health burden that’s not always seen but always felt.

"And just as I’ll carry it mile after mile, veterans can carry those struggles long after their service has ended.

“It’s going to be a huge test but I’m looking forward to meeting people along the way and hearing their stories.”

Chris began his journey from Tesco’s Corstorphine Extra store, in Edinburgh.

After several stops in the north he’ll walk to Worksop and then cycle 58 miles to Melton Mowbray’s Tesco store, before getting back on his feet and stopping at Oakham, Corby and Kettering.

The final three days see him stopping in Bedford and Flitwick before he finally arrives in Welwyn Garden City at Tesco HQ, Shire Park, on June 25th.

Go to https://events.combatstress.org.uk/fundraisers/Onemanandhismedball to donate to his fundraising effort.