A Spalding RAF veteran has his sights on the Three Peaks Challenge to raise money for a military charity.
Colin Oakes (57) completed the challenge last year, raising funds for Help for Heroes. This year he is starting at Scafell Pike, in the Lake District, at the end of April.
He will complete the other two within three months as part of a series of seven ‘Heroes Hikes’ being held around the country.
Colin lives with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and has battled prostate cancer. He started joining the Heroes Hikes four years ago.
“I’ve found the Heroes Hikes a great way to be out exercising at a personal pace, interact with others and experience the UK countryside first-hand. I met so many different people, from all sorts of backgrounds, not just the military, and we all encouraged each other along,” he said.
“Many veterans have hidden wounds, myself being one of them. A physical injury can heal over time, but a hidden wound like anxiety or depression is a life struggle. It took all my strength to attend the hikes last year, but I’m so glad I did,” he added.
Colin, who grew up in the north east, joined the army at the age of 18 but experienced bullying and joined the reserves and was deployed to Bosnia and Iraq.
He joined the RAF as a regular in 1998 and trained as a mechanical ground technician. He served in Iraq, the Falkland Islands and Afghanistan before being medically discharged in 2017.
Following successful treatment for prostate cancer, he lives with bladder and bowel problems.
“I’ve had to deal with prostate cancer as well as PTSD. The support I’ve received from Help for Heroes has been great. They stepped in when no-one else did.
“As a result of almost 30 years of service, I picked up a number of injuries, which at the time in true military fashion, were treated with painkillers and a slap on the back for reassurance! On top of which, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer and have been on a daily cocktail of medication for 15 years.
“I’ve found the Heroes Hikes a great way to be out exercising at a personal pace, interact with others and experience the UK Countryside first-hand.”
An HGV driver for Turners, Colin, who has lived in Spalding since 2008, said the Three Peaks is a tough challenge.
“Added to by carrying weight as no-one should leave for any summit without food, drink and a warm change of clothing,” he said.
He has a Just Giving page called Scafell Pike Heroes Hike where sponsorship can be donated.
