AN ANNUAL fashion show which gives wounded and injured veterans and personnel a starring role on the catwalk has had its first child model – a little girl who bravely saved her mother’s life.
The Phoenix House fashion show, now in its fourth year, encourages veterans and serving personnel who are working to overcome physical or mental illness to take part in the event as a confidence boost and to see how far they have come.
Maya Turner got the biggest cheer on the catwalk. Picture: STUART BOULTON
The Help for Heroes-run recovery centre in Catterick Garrison aims to build resilience and self esteem and equip those who have served in the Armed Forces with the skills they need for their future.
Introduced by compere and former Northern Echo editor Peter Barron, the star of this year’s show was five-year-old Maya Turner, who saved her mother Michelle’s life last December after she collapsed and was unconscious.
Veteran Ken Nash takes to the catwalk. Picture: STUART BOULTON
Mrs Turner, who is set to be medically discharged from the RAF in March, had been diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, which causes abnormal increases in heart rate, resulting in dizziness and fainting.
She contracted a virus while deployed overseas, resulting in her having the disease, and had prepared Maya for the possibility that she could collapse by leaving a drawing of an ambulance with 999 on by the phone.
Luckily, Maya remembered the note when Mrs Turner fell unconscious and managed to tell the crews where to go, and stayed on the phone until paramedics arrived.
Earlier this year Maya was presented with an Ambulance Service Child of Courage medal for bravery.
Also taking to the catwalk were veterans Mark Appleby and Jason Wilkes.
Mr Wilkes, 42, from Haswell, near Peterlee, served in the Royal Engineers for 21 years before being medically discharged in 2014.
He said: “I was involved in two incidents which led to me suffering from PTSD.
Veteran Jason Wikes gets down for a 22 Push Up Challenge, which is a challenge which has gone viral in promoting mental health in the military. Picture: STUART BOULTON
“The first was in Iraq in 2006, I was in a tank when a suicide bomber in a car went off alongside us, taking out some civilians in a car behind too. I was badly burned on my hands but I was the medic on board so I attended to everyone else.
“I couldn’t feel my hands as the adrenalin carried me on, and we had to wait for more than an hour before any help came.”
He was posted to Northern Ireland in 2009 and a major shooting triggered his PTSD again. He was slow to receive help but once he found Phoenix House his recovery has been steady.
“I take part in golf events and want to try and bring more awareness for people suffering from mental health problems,” he said.
Mr Appleby, 44, a former infantry soldier for 25 years, now living in Darlington, said he needed several knee replacements due to wear and tear from his job and playing rugby, but he did not seek help after he was medically discharged because he did not think he was needy enough.
“You see guys missing limbs – I didn’t have that. I did have PTSD but it went undiagnosed for a long time. Coming to Phoenix House has helped me to rebuild my confidence and introduced me to Band of Brothers, which has helped me get the support I needed.”
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