A MILESTONE has been reached by a charity set up to support servicemen and women affected by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

A series of fundraising events has enabled Sapper Support to commission and erect a memorial at the national arboretum in Staffordshire to honour all those who have died whilst suffering PTSD.

The campaign has been backed by Martin Fleming, from Brotton, east Cleveland, who was formerly a sapper in the Royal Engineers for eight years before starting work at the Boulby Potash mine.

Last year, he organised a bike ride from Morecombe to Redcar to raise money and that event is being staged again this year.

“Anyone who has served in the forces knows that PTSD often goes unrecognised and sufferers can be left to cope on their own,” he said. “But plenty of them can’t and we don’t think that is good enough."

Sapper Support won the best new charity award at ‘Charity Times 2017’ announced last October. It is the only 24/7 PTSD helpline in the UK, staffed solely by veterans and emergency service personnel and offers help and support to everyone, not just veterans.

“We provide emotional help and support for more than 300 veterans, as well as the wider community of people who find themselves in difficulty,” said charity founder Tim Evers.

“We use peer support and shared experience to help sufferers overcome feelings of low-mood, self-loathing, worthlessness, survivor guilt, flashbacks and many other feelings.”

The statue is now in place providing a quiet area, a special place where family and friends can go and reflect and pay their respects to those who sadly took their own lives.

Members of the public can help the charity by visiting www.sappersupport.com or by emailing Tim Evers at timevers@btinternet.com