Mark Brown and his son Edward are men on a mission when it comes to the Healing The Wounds charity.
And they have their sights set on a fund-raising job of truly Himalayan proportions.
Mark and Edward plan to trek to the 21,240ft (6476m) Mera Peak in the Himalayas.
“It’s a big task, but we are up for the challenge and we aim to use the trek to put the Healing The Wounds charity on the map,” said Mark Brown, 51.
The charity works to help sufferers of PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder).
“I never really appreciated the fact that there isn’t a mechanism in place to treat the brave men and women who serve in our armed forces,” said Mark.
“The same also goes for those who work in the civilian services and may suffer from PTSD because of the work they have to carry out.
“Healing The Wounds is a marvellous charity with a great mission in life to help those suffering from PTSD.”
Mark, until recently an aircraft technician at RAF St Athan, and his son Edward, 18, a HND sports coaching student at Pencoed College, will be leaving for the Himalayas on April 14.
The pair, from Pencoed, Bridgend, will fly into Kathmandu and then take another flight to Lukla. They will acclimatise to the altitude on the three-week trek to the Mera Peak.
Mark has had experience of altitude before – “Back in 2005, I climbed the 19,340 ft Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain in Africa.
“The Himalayas is obviously a different sort of experience, but we have both been training hard and getting in lots of cardio-vascular work, including running and cycling and treks up the Brecon Beacons.
“My eldest son, Lee, 30, is currently with the 3 Mercian Regiment in Afghanistan, but he isn’t the prime motive in making me take on this challenge for Healing The Wounds.
“When I first started to find out more about PTSD treatment in the UK it became apparent to me that the NHS doesn’t really offer much in the way of treatment. I have heard horror stories of guys returned home to Wales in need of PTSD treatment and then being packed off back to their regiment in the hope that they would be able to provide treatment.
“The work that the Healing The Wounds charity does means that these men and women can receive treatment near their homes here in Wales. I think it is a thoroughly deserving charity and we will be doing our level best to make sure the world knows about the great work Healing The Wounds does.”
Charity executive director Kevin Richards said: “It is great to see the effort that Mark and Edward are making to raise funds for Healing The Wounds and we obviously wish them a safe and successful journey to the Himalayas.”
