Soldier injured by grenade takes on a marathon effort for charity
EIGHT YEARS ago, soldier Christopher Unwin was injured by a grenade while on a routine patrol in Afghanistan, leaving him with life-altering injuries.
But on Sunday, he will join thousands of runners raising money for charity at the London Marathon. Mr Unwin, from Rotherham, served in the infantry for 13 years, in flashpoints like Kosovo, Sierra Leon, Northern Ireland, Iraq, and Beirut.
But, he says, civilian life has felt like “a battle of its own kind”. He left the Armed Forces two years after the grenade attack left him with severe damage to his spine, acute hearing loss and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
He now works for Openreach, which has raised more than £100,000 for SSAFA, formerly known as Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association. His fundraising for this weekend has already collected more than £1,350 for the charity.
Looking back on the day he was injured, Mr Unwin said: “In a job that requires you to be fearless, focused and detached, I couldn’t help but think: ‘Could this be the day it all ends?’
“During my military career I have seen so many horrors of war and I can admit that these have had a great effect on my mental health.
“Since leaving the Army in 2012, life has felt like a battle of its own kind. I have relived the feelings of terror I experienced in combat and have struggled to adapt to civilian life. I have no regrets serving my country; however, I want to help more veterans like myself to feel supported returning to civilian life.”
He added: “SSAFA provides help for the military community with the challenges of returning back to civilian life, supporting those who struggle with the transition and providing hope for the future at a time when you need it most.”
SSAFA’s director of fundraising Jonathan Sandall said: “Every mile that Christopher runs will make a difference to the lives of our forces and their families.”