Army veteran takes on Ben Nevis in support of forces charity
An Army veteran from Arbroath is hoping that 20 years on, he will be able to successfully repeat his climb of Ben Nevis as he strives to make sure the veteran community is not forgotten.
Robbie Cuthill, 48, has signed up for the Help for Heroes Hike, which will take place in June on the 82nd anniversary of D-Day, and is one of a series of seven expert-guided routes around the UK organised by the armed forces harity.
He said: “I’m concerned that these days, veterans aren’t as visible to society and want to get people talking about this if I can.
“Personally, I’ve had a difficult past 12 months. But when I saw details about the hike up Ben Nevis, I decided to sign up to support the charity that’s been helping me, but also to hopefully get people thinking again about the veterans who live in their local community.”
Robbie joined the Black Watch in October 1994 and was deployed to Northern Ireland, Kosovo, Hong Kong, Iraq and Afghanistan. Following a 24-year career, where he specialised in communications technology, Robbie has been living with the impact of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which he thinks is due to the combat operations he experienced.
Siobhan Warren, Help for Heroes’ event fundraising manager, said: “This series of seven one-day hikes is more than just a fundraiser for our amazing veterans. They’re an opportunity to reconnect with nature, meet new friends, and feel a real sense of personal achievement.
“Robbie’s motivation is very personal to him; some people walk because they have family members who have been helped by the Charity; while others may be motivated by more prosaic reasons, such as just taking exercise in fresh air, or are simply hikers by nature.
“Whatever the motivation, if you’re looking for an inspiring walking challenge, Heroes Hikes maybe the perfect choice.”
Robbie added: “Completing the Ben Nevis hike will be a challenge for me, I’m not as fit as I was 20 years ago, when my platoon did the climb. It’s not just a gentle walk in the countryside, but I’m determined to do it and have started training.
“It will be good to meet up with like-minded people who want to support our veterans, and to feel that I’ve accomplished something, as well. Why not come and join us?”
The series of seven Heroes Hikes begins with Scafell Pike on April 25, followed by Snowdon on May 9, and a visit to Ben Nevis on June 6. The focus shifts on July 26, when the hike is around London, taking in 30 landmark military sights, before walkers leave the city behind for the coast, with a trek of nearly 17 miles (27km) along the stunning Jurassic Coast, in Dorset.
The series then concludes in September, with two hikes in beautiful countryside: on Dartmoor and in the Lincolnshire Wolds. Each guided hike costs £49 per person, with a suggested fundraising target of £200.
For more information go to https://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/give-support/fundraising-events/ and to show your support for Robbie go to https://www.justgiving.com/page/robbie-cuthill-1?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL&utm_campaign=020