Former soldier hiking for armed forces charity
William Hitch suffered night terrors after he returned from Afghanistan
- Published
A former soldier from Derby is planning a walking challenge to raise awareness about mental health.
William Hitch, 31, served with the Mercian Regiment and was shot in the arm while serving in Afghanistan.
After returning to the UK, he had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and decided to do a walking challenge to highlight the importance of men's mental health.
He will be hiking for 48 hours continuously, without any sleep, from Edale in Derbyshire on 10 May.
Mr Hitch said: "A big part of this is to champion mental health. It is a big topic in general at the moment, but particularly for men and particularly ex-servicemen."
He will be joined by Alex Sweeney, from Chesterfield, who also served with the Mercian Regiment.
The pair have a 32km circular route planned from Edale that they are hoping to walk six times in the 48-hour challenge.
They are hoping to raise £2,000 for the armed forces charity, SSAFA.
Alex Sweeney, who joined the Army in 2011, will be hoping to walk about 120 miles in the challenge
In 2014, Mr Hitch was medically discharged from the Army after being diagnosed with testicular cancer two years earlier.
He suffered from PTSD after leaving and had night terrors.
Mr Hitch said: "I was shot in the arm. Luckily, it [the bullet] just grazed across the arm and cut it open, but I would often relive that, and I would still get the phantom pain of the round hitting the arm."
But he said he "suffered in silence" for six or seven years before he got treatment for his mental health problems.
Mr Hitch wants to encourage people with mental health problems to get help
Mr Hitch added: "As I have personally suffered and kept my mental health from my friends and family, Alex and I want to raise awareness and encourage people to get the support they need.
"SSAFA is the stepping stone in the journey for many people, particularly ex-servicemen. Mental health matters; don't suffer in silence, and don't be afraid to speak up."
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