A former Royal Navy serviceman is setting off on an 18 mile walk from Cilgerran this weekend to raise money for the charity which helped turn his life around.

Matthew Cope was medically discharged from The Royal Navy in July 2015 after a lengthy battle with anxiety and depression.

“I found myself unable to work and support my family and felt I would never receive the care I needed in civilian street,” said Matthew.

He was massively aided by charity Walking With The Wounded which aims to support all ex-servicemen and women with physical, mental or social injury to gain the skills and qualifications necessary to develop new careers outside the military and re-integrate into society, providing long term security for themselves and their families.

“Walking With The Wounded recognised my situation and funded my recovery,” said Matthew. “I was placed on their Head Start programme. They found me a suitable therapist close to my home and paid for private one to one sessions.

“The path to recovery was hard but with the aid of my therapist and the continued support of Walking With The Wounded, I now feel I can lead a fulfilling life with a new career and the ability to be present as a father and a husband.”

Matthew is now a self-employed tree surgeon in Ceredigion, who regularly works with a team based in Cilgerran, Pembrokshire.

On Saturday, December 16, he will be starting his walk from Cilgerran and, with three friends, walking the 18 miles, via the Ceredigion coastal path, back to his home in Llwyndafydd. You can sponsor Matthew on https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/matthew-cope1.

His walk is part of the charity’s Walking Home for Christmas campaign, which is asking the British public to do a walk of any sort between Friday, December 8, and Sunday 17. The charity hopes to raise £250,000 which will enable the charity to change the lives of more than 400 men and women.

“Hopefully the money raised will help fund others recovery in similar situations as I was,” said Matthew.