An ‘heroic’ trauma counsellor has raised hundred of pounds for veteran’s charity Help for Heroes by taking on a challenge to walk 150 miles in one month with a weighted backpack.
Michelle Brown, age 45, who lives in Penryn with her army veteran husband, was born and brought up in Cornwall raised the money for Help for Heroes.
She is a counsellor and trauma specialist and co-founder and director of Ratcliffe & Brown CIC Partner Ratcliffe Therapeutic Counselling, also trauma specialists whose works covers armed forces veterans.
The Help for Heroes virtual challenge, takes part in a location of choice, in Michelle’s case Falmouth. Based on a style of military training called ‘tabbing’; the challenge is to walk 150 miles, carrying a weight of their choice, to be completed in the month of July.
Michelle wore her partner’s old Bergen (military back pack) and filled it with 15kg of weights, which is no easy feat - that’s about the same weight as most people's check-in suitcase luggage when they head off on holiday!
Michelle absolutely smashed her challenge and initial fundraising target of £150, beyond what she could have imagined and raised a total of £710 for the charity.
She would often go out at 6am before work and finish after 9pm at night. She says she is over joyed at this amount that has now been submitted to Help For Heroes and is so grateful to all that so kindly and generously donated to her.
Michelle said: “This challenge was so close to my heart, for multiple reasons. My partner who is now a veteran, served for 24 years in the military as ‘Royal Logistics Corps Warrant Office Class 1’ and other members of my family are still serving.
“In my job as a counsellor, I often support members of the Armed Forces, both current serving personal and veterans. This walking challenge really allowed me to think about all those brave people who I am currently supporting who are struggling and all those brave heroes that have sadly lost their lives during service. I also wanted to push myself mentally and physically and this challenge certainly did that!”
Her friend Chantelle said she was so proud of what Michelle had achieved: “It is such a deserving and meaningful charity, both my own parents and my brother-in-law are both veterans, so it struck a chord with me too.
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“All these brave men and women give their all to protect our country and it is great that charities like this exist and are able to give back to those who gave so much.
“I am incredibly proud of Michelle and it was an honour to walk a little with her throughout the challenge. I would have loved to have signed up with her, but my chronic ill health unfortunately limits my ability to do so.
“Michelle put her whole mind and body into this, with a huge positive energy and a big smile. Going out consecutive days, sometimes twice a day to ensure she could achieve the necessary miles.”
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