Former soldier from Essex running length of country for "his mates"
A former soldier, from Harlow, is to run from John O’Groats to Land’s End to ensure his former colleagues are still able to access services provided by Armed Forces charity Help for Heroes.
Keanu Jackson, 24, spent five years with the Royal Engineers, and believes now the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq are no longer on the front pages there may be a perception mental health support is no longer needed.
He tells Greatest Hits Radio "that's far from the truth".
He explained: “I’ve done six marathons and four ultra-marathons, and, I suppose, I’m just looking for the next big challenge.
"I feel with all the other events I’ve done I had confidence that it would be hard, but I could get there. I believe I can do this as well, but this is really going to put me on the edge. And I like that, I like a challenge.
“I’m running for Help for Heroes, because, obviously, it’s closely linked to the role I had before. A lot of my mates are leaving the army, too, and there’s a definite need for the services Help for Heroes offers.
“I only left in October, and I’ve had some tough times. It’s not great leaving and just being on your own. So, I understand the massive need for what the Charity does and offers. I feel very strongly about that.
“Now, Afghanistan’s gone, Iraq’s gone, maybe the public perception of PTSD isn’t as high as it was previously. But it’s still very much a thing people need help and support with. I’d like to help ensure that people who do need support are able to get it. It’s important those services are available.”
Keanu will be running with a sleeping bag and a roll mat, as he plans on pitching up at campsites overnight.
He is aiming to run an average of 20 miles per day, for six days a week, to cover the 900-plus miles, and resting up on the Saturday, although he admitted with a smile, “On the Saturdays I’m hoping to do the park runs where I stop. As much as I want to challenge myself, I still want to enjoy it.”
“I don’t have a job now. I saved money from when I was in service, and I’ve just got back from Thailand. I’m just being 24-years old and living my life,” he laughed.
“This is the next thing on my agenda, and, after that, I would like to get a job within an organisation that puts on ultra-marathon events. But I’ve not even dipped my toe into that, yet. That’s something for down the line.”
His run, which begins on 1 April, will see him head down through Inverness and Edinburgh before hugging the west of England, past Carlisle, Preston, and Bristol, before the final stretch into Cornwall. He hopes to raise at least £1,000 and will be posting on his Instagram page every day.
Help for Heroes champions the Armed Forces community and helps them live well after service.
The Charity helps veteran families to recover and get on with their lives. It has already supported more than 31,000 people but continues to see increasing demand for its support services across the board.
The cost-of-living crisis and soaring energy bills saw the Charity award a record number of financial grants to veteran households last year, including more than £30,000 to support very seriously injured veterans struggling to meet energy costs
The Charity supports veteran families, from any branch of the UK military – regulars or reserves – irrespective of length or place of service, and locally embedded civilians (and their families) who worked under the command of UK Armed Forces.
To get support visit helpforheroes.org.uk