Monument to Traumatised Soldiers Erected at the National Arboretum After Charity Fundraising

A milestone has been reached by a charity set up to support servicemen and women affected by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as a result of the things they had witnessed while on active service.

A series of fundraising events has enabled Sapper Support to commission and erect a memorial at the national arboretum in Staffordshire to honour all those who have died whilst suffering PTSD.

Based in West Yorkshire the charity was set up by ex-soldier Tim Evers who served in Belize and Bosnia. He has been backed by Martin Fleming from Brotton in East Cleveland.

Formerly a sapper in the Royal Engineers for eight years Martin now works at the Boulby Potash mine and last year organised a bike ride from Morecombe to Redcar to raise money. That event is being staged again this year.

The statue and quiet area at the national arboretum in Staffordshire

“Anyone who has served in the forces knows that PTSD often goes unrecognised and sufferers can be left to cope on their own,” said Martin. “But plenty of them can’t and we don’t think that is good enough,” he added.

Sapper Support won the best new charity award at ‘Charity Times 2017’ announced last October. It is the only 24/7 PTSD helpline in the UK, staffed solely by veterans and emergency service personnel and offers help and support to everyone, not just veterans:

“We provide emotional help and support for more than 300 veterans, as well as the wider community of people who find themselves in difficulty,” said Tim. “We use peer support and shared experience to help sufferers overcome feelings of low-mood, self-loathing, worthlessness, survivor guilt, flashbacks and many other feelings.”

The statue is now in place providing a quiet area, a special place where family and friends can go and reflect and pay their respects to those who sadly took their own lives.

Members of the public can help the charity by visiting www.sappersupport.com or by emailing Tim Evers at [email protected].

Follows Sapper Support on Twitter & Facebook.

NOTES TO EDITORS: For further information please contact Peter Dodson, 07753 910536, email [email protected]; or Ken Ryalls, 07711 749172, email [email protected].

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