Staying power for trauma victims

After surviving cancer, Simon Buckden called time on his 100 marathons in 100 weeks challenge just past the half way point.

Some may have thought that would mean the former soldier, who suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, might slow down, or even hang up his running shoes.

Not a bit of it.

Just last week he and fiancée Louisa Rodriguez completed their first endurance marathon, sharing the gruelling 105 miles between them in just less than 24 hours.

“I just can’t stop running,” says Simon, 40, from Bramley, Leeds. “It was a tough event but was helped by having Louisa with me, even though we are quite competitive against each other.”

The Endurance 24 was the first of a series of tests Simon and Louisa have set themselves in their Challenges 4 PTSD campaign.

All are aimed at further increasing the profile of PTSD and also showing that life does continue after diagnosis.

Other events include the Belfast 24-hour Track Run and the Liverpool to Leeds Canal run, and in 2015 the couple plan to run across America, further challenging the stigma of PTSD and mental health.

Simon is also starting to write a book about his 100 marathons in 100 weeks challenge as well as his battle with PTSD.

America is not the only place where Simon and Louisa are challenging perceptions of PTSD and mental illness.

Just three days before they embarked on the Endurance 24 race, they returned from an emotional trip to Bulgaria where they saw first hand how people with mental health conditions are treated.

Simon had been invited to Bulgaria to run with the Olympic Torch which he had carried during the relay last year, as part of the country’s first ever British Week, during which he got to meet the English Ambassador to Bulgaria. The trip was organised by Rosemary and Bobby Martin from Trust Global Radio in Bulgaria.

“The reception we got was amazing,” he says. “Everyone really loved seeing the Olympic Torch and we did some runs through some of the towns and cities and also got to do a lot of media which was gruelling but really helped raise awareness of PTSD and continue the Olympics legacy.”

Simon has suffered PTSD since witnessing the atrocities in Bosnia more than 17 years ago, although he wasn’t officially diagnosed until 2005. The condition affects his sleep, his moods and emotions and his relationships. Trips like the one to Bulgaria have a profound effect upon him mentally, although he does not regret the trip.

“Louisa and I will definitely be returning to Bulgaria. It was incredibly emotional and I am only just feeling the true effects of it now, nearly two weeks since we got back.”

He still suffers from what he calls the ‘demons’ of PTSD, but he manages to remain positive, constantly fighting to get PTSD recognised.

He is helped both emotionally and physically by Louisa, herself a motivational speaker.

Louisa is also helping Simon write his book.

“She has to put up with a lot as a partner of someone with a mental illness. We work together to work out strategies. She is also now my running partner, which is brilliant. Before Endure 24 she had hardly done any distance running. I really feel like I have met my match.”

The couple also want to raise awareness that PTSD is not only suffered by members of the armed forces. Trauma victims and victims of rape and abuse can all be affected by the condition, and Simon and Louisa are determined that all their voices should be heard. And if all that wasn’t enough Simon has just been named as patron of the Honour British Forces charity.

“I am excited to announce that I have become a Patron of a brilliant charity that is supporting Ex Military in the UK,” he announced on his Facebook site.

Couple rising to the challenges

Simon Buckden and Louisa Rodriguez have set themselves a number of challenges over the next few years to raise awareness of Post Traumatic Stress Disorders.

This year they plan to run four 24-hour runs, in 2014 they will be running from John O’Groats to Lands End.

Then in 2015 they are planning to run across the USA.

For more informatuion visit https://www.facebook.com/Challenges4PTSD

For more on Simon and his battle with PTSD visit https://www.facebook.com/SimonBuckden or follow him on Twitter @PostiveA4PTSD