Remarkable veterans inspire Crewe Toll staff

Armed Forces Para Snowsport Team (AFPST) launch Spirit of Challenge at Leonardo Crewe Toll site

Veterans the Armed Forces Para Snowsport Team (AFPST) veterans shared their remarkable stories of recovery, achieved through their participation in snowports provided by the AFPST (Armed Forces Para Snowsport Team) charity with Leonardo staff at Crewe Toll last week.

Employees at Leonardo across the UK are to undertake a range of fundraising activities for the charity, from a Fit Bit walking group who are going to clock up a million steps, to a team of Leonardo Apprentices who are going to climb Ben Nevis.

The veterans included Tiffany Oatway who suffers from Fibromyalgia and ME and Jamie Weller who is blind. The team were also accompanied by Neil Graham who acts as a guide to Billy Black, a blind veteran skier. The veterans participate in Paralympic sports competitions and Jamie Weller has plans to climb to the base camp at Mount Everest. A veteran linked to the charity has said that as soon as he clips on his skies, he unlocks himself from his PTSD and feels free again.

This year, the Armed Forces Para Snowsport Team (AFPST) is launching a new ‘Spirit of Challenge’ fundraising campaign, in partnership with defence and security company Leonardo.

The campaign has been inspired by a group of injured, wounded and sick service personnel and veterans, who have rebuilt their lives by participating in winter snowsports. Every year the UK’s Armed Forces Para-Snowsport Team (AFPST) plays a powerful role in the recovery, transformation and personal freedom of wounded, injured and sick serving personnel and veterans. This sporting activity rebuilds their self-confidence and competitive spirit, and gives them the opportunity to redefine themselves as Athletes within the snowsports arena.

Employees at Leonardo are long-term supporters of AFPST, which allows these extraordinary athletes to participate in Snowboarding, Alpine and Nordic Skiing. For the first time, employees from across all of Leonardo’s UK sites will be invited to find their ‘spirit of challenge’ by selecting a sport or activity of their choosing, to raise funds for the charity. Over a two week period in April and May, athletes from the charity are visiting the company’s UK sites to tell their story, describing just how the charity has transformed their lives. In addition, they will outline how employees can contribute towards this highly effective rehabilitation sports programme.

Elizabeth Winfield, Vice Chairman AFPST said: “The athletes’ recovery journeys are truly remarkable. They are coping with a range of challenges which could easily be overwhelming, yet they refuse to allow this to define them. It is heartening to know that there is so much support out there for our athletes, as I know that it means a tremendous amount to them, and allows us as to provide more opportunities to more athletes .”

Speaking about his participation in AFPST snowsports, Veteran Jamie Weller said:  “Blindness is simply an inconvenience that needs innovative solutions to allow me to get on with my life.”

Please visit www.afpst.co.uk to get involved and learn more about the charity.

You can follow the AFPST social media on #AFPSTSpirit.