Army veterans Len Gibbon and Steve Boylan have signed up for the Worthing 10k, due to take place on Sunday 9 October, to fundraise for Care for Veterans.
Len, who is a 98-year-old WWII veteran of the Normandy Landings and Steve, a 46-year-old ex-Royal Engineer, will be joining the annual event, which this year is set to expect 1500 runners.
Steve served as a Warrant Officer for over twenty years. At 39 years of age, Steve was knocked from his motorbike and sustained a severe brain injury, partial paralysis, and speech difficulties. It is now four years on from his arrival at Care for Veterans, during which time Steve has made amazing improvements, allowing him to enjoy an improved quality of life.
By utilising speech and language therapy and attending regular physiotherapy and occupational therapy sessions with the team, Steve has developed his communication and mobility skills. Steve has continued to stay focused on his goals and said that he feels that “it is going excellently”. Steve added,
“Every day is a gift… one day, my goal is to walk again. Being here makes that goal possible”.
Len arrived at Care for Veterans in 2019, after a couple of falls which led to the realisation that he needed extra help on a day-to-day basis. The Care for Veterans physiotherapists have been working with Len on his ankle strength, overall endurance and his balance. Len is now able to walk safely around with a mobility frame and supervision. He feels that his leg strength and overall fitness have improved with physiotherapy.
The Care for Veterans team will be pushing Steve and Len in their wheelchairs at the Worthing 10k. Anything you can spare to support these two inspiring veterans in their endeavours will make a massive difference to the lives of our disabled veterans.
Care for Veterans has been providing physically disabled ex-Service personnel with long-term nursing, respite, and award-winning end-of-life care since 1919. As the charity receives no regular Government funding, fundraising at events like the Worthing 10k is crucial to the continuity of the first-class care they offer.
To sponsor Len and Steve and to leave a message of support, please follow this link: www.justgiving.com/team/careforveterans
To find out more about Care for Veterans, head to www.careforveterans.org.uk
