A TEAM of wounded veterans is taking part in this weekend’s Lakeland 50 challenge as part of their recovery.

The group of 20 former members of the military will be accompanied by staff from Help for Heroes – the charity supporting them as they try to come to terms with their injures and subsequent end of their career.

The majority of those competing have ‘Hidden Wounds’ (mental illness) and benefit from training for and completing tough challenges.

Among the veterans looking forward to making his way from the Northern end of Ullswater to the finish line at Coniston is Sean Donlan, who embraces every opportunity to improve his physical prowess as it is not so long ago that he could hardly walk.

Five years ago, he was lying in a hospital bed with a very serious brain injury after he was caught up in an explosion in Afghanistan and his family had been told he was unlikely to survive.

He was left almost paralysed down one side, deaf in his left ear and unable to speak.

Part of his skull was removed to relieve his symptoms and he spent months in hospital undergoing countless operations.

At the end he could barely walk and could not talk but intensive physiotherapy and speech therapy resulted in vast improvements.

Sean became part of the first disabled team to complete the ultra-distance triathlon Arch to Arc, which involves relay teams running 87 miles from Marble Arch to Dover, swimming across the Channel and then cycling 181 miles from Calais to the Arc de Triomphe.

Last year Sean completed the Catterick to Windsor Hero Ride and the Ironman UK in 2014.

Sean said: “The support of the military up until discharge, of the Help for Heroes supported activities team in Catterick, and also Vista Home Care Ltd, the Cleckheaton company that taught me how to speak again, all helped me get to the stage I'm at now and I am determined to make the most of every opportunity presented to me.

“Before injury, when I was fit, I would never have dreamed of being capable of doing these endurance events so to be competing in them now, after all I have been through, is unbelievable. Training for each challenge gives me a sense of purpose and the camaraderie among the team is like being back in the Army which I loved.”

The group will be led by Mark Airey, Strength and Conditioning Manager at Help for Heroes northern Recovery Centre, Phoenix House in Catterick, who said prior to injury or illness, military personnel were highly-trained, extremely fit individuals who were used to working as part of a closely-knit team and as such many required ‘a challenging rehabilitation/recovery environment within which they can prove themselves once more - albeit, within the arena of sport, not combat.’

“Events such as the Lakeland 50 enhance self-confidence, self-efficacy, competitive spirit and sense of camaraderie with others who have experienced serious injury, disability, and/or mental health issues.”

For more information about how Help for Heroes can support wounded, injured or sick former serviceman living in Cumbria, visit: www.helpforheroes.org.uk or call Phoenix House Recovery Centre on 01748 834148.