Dear Spencer,
I would like to start by thanking you, the entire team and the sponsors for the outstanding work you do for veteran communities.
I should have waited before emailing you to allow me to fully digest everything I have just seen, done and participated in during the Veteran Games 2022. The truth is in a few days time it will be my thirteenth anniversary of the day my world crashed down and rather than things easing over time it seems to get harder.
I was unfortunate enough to have been blown up twice in the space of six weeks in Afghanistan and unknowingly broke my neck in the first blast. Then, just a few weeks later I woke from a coma to be told that I had been blown up again but this time my life had changed forever. After suffering many serious life changing injuries I found myself isolated and cut off from the support and rehabilitation I should have received and found life incredibly discriminating and woeful. Instead I headed downhill on a collision course with death. My mind and my body was Broken By War. For six years I was alone with just my wife and daughter to live for. The military had left me to rot and many of the big charities also. I found myself fighting to survive, clinging on for my family. I had attempted to end my life many times but could not find the strength to end it.
I was saved by The Not Forgotten Charity in 2019.
They invited a broken, lost and forgotten man into their charity. Before finding this charity I sadly had to share my story to be found. I wrote an extremely powerful book called Broken By War. The book inspired many people across the world to reach out for help including our younger generation. I proudly beat many to claim second at the English Veteran Awards for inspiration, not bad for a Welshman. A 15 year old boy became so inspired by my story went on to win ITV’s Good Morning Britain Young Loneliness Award. However it wasn’t the book or praise I was after it was help. That’s where The Not Forgotten Stepped in. Unaware of my book they were informed from someone who had read my book of me. Sadly I hadn’t heard of the charity before they made contact with me, but they did and they saved my life.
I was invited along to the games at short notice as someone withdrew in April. I suffer badly with CPTSD and my nerves and anxiety are through the roof. Because I trusted The Not Forgotten this empowered me to push myself out of my comfort zone and make the trip. I wasn’t in shape due to the notice given but knew I had some fight still inside my broken body. On seeing the size of some of the athletes on the trip especially those stood either side of me in the swimming I was petrified but not defeated. Throughout the week I found so much strength, love and compassion from everyone, that I’m sat at home still smiling. I didn’t need to win a medal, instead I won a confidence battle and a found love for a veterans community I felt no part of before I made the trip.
I return home with hope, hope that my newfound confidence will enable me to change my life. This is down to you and every member of staff from the events team right down to the bus drivers and the sponsors. You are all amazing human beings.
One day if I ever have the chance to return, I would not hesitate. I will return stronger and a genuine medal contender, but Spencer you would have to make me a promise that my kit will be medium in size I would be honoured to send you a signed copy of my book Broken By War as a sincere thank you for everything you do.
Yours sincerely
Anthony
Broken By War
