THE ROAD TO RECOVERY

Driving from east to west across unforgiving terrain, charity VetRun180 took a group of veterans on the healing trip of a lifetime, finds

Veterans charity VetRun180 takes ex-military men on an off-roading adventure from east to west

We can all remember a handful of conversations that made us re-evaluate our attitude to life. Talking with two British veterans who served for their country in some of the world’s most hostile environments was one of those moments. ‘I was in the Royal Marines for nine years and was injured in Afghanistan in 2009 when a rocket hit my leg,’ explains Matt Abbott, managing trustee for veterans charity VetRun180. ‘But that’s fine, I chose to join and I loved it.’

‘I’m an ex-Royal Marines commando,’ says Joe Zipfel, team leader for the charity. ‘I did two tours of Afghanistan. Unfortunately on my second tour I lost my leg when I got shot by a sniper. That was on this day nine years ago.’

Now dedicating their time to helping veterans with physical and psychological injuries by taking them on ‘adventure therapy’ expeditions across the globe, they seek to reinvoke the veterans’ immense sense of adventure and camaraderie as they make the difficult transition from military to civilian life.

Just a few weeks ago, Joe embarked on an off-roading expedition in Scotland with ex-Marines and ex-Army men, leading the group of 11 from Dunnottar Castle in Aberdeenshire to Ardnamurchan Lighthouse on the west coast in a fleet of specially adapted Land Rover Defenders and a Discovery that can be operated by anyone with a physical injury. The participants also come away from VetRun180 trips with a highly-respected LANTRA qualification for off-roading and a first aid certificate.

‘What VetRun says is, “If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you”,’ says Matt. ‘You see a positive change in the guys from day one to day seven.’

With help from Sandgrouse Travel’s Jonny Stage, who gained access to several estates for the trip, the veterans took a series of hurdles in their stride. Driving through rivers, battling pesky midges, wild camping under the stars, and getting stuck in knee-deep mud as the night closed in – completing the expedition was no mean feat.

‘You miss being around proactive individuals and being a part of a team,’ says Joe, reflecting on military retirement. ‘To see the change in these guys is really inspirational and humbling.’

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

Coast to coast: Scottish car wash in Loch Laggan.

Left: Through Rickarton Estate, Stonehaven. Above, clockwise from top left: Bogged at 2,800ft up on Mar Estate; overcoming Balmoral’s infamous ‘Burma Road’; Fetteresso Forest in Aberdeenshire; route briefings with Sandgrouse Travel.

Clockwise from top left: The group travelled through Scotland’s most remote locations; VetRun180 group photo; keeping cosy by campfires; stargazing; spotting vehicles over obstacles; trackside puncture repairs in under five minutes; manoeuvring through some tricky terrain.