My name is Jason, I was in the Royal Signals and reached the rank of Corporal but unfortunately, I was medically discharged after 18 years of service, due to a diagnosis of Huntington’s Disease.
I joined the army because I felt a physical job would help me mentally and physically. Throughout the course of my service, I completed two tours of Bosnia and then Iraq during war time. I also completed my Arctic warfare training in Norway. Being in the Army was great and I have a lifelong friends because of that. I have made new friends at The Veteran’s Hub Weymouth & Portland CIC. The Hub is always welcoming and supportive with a great community. Staying active with running and boxing is vital when you have Huntington’s. I have previously completed the London Marathon in 2005. I have also completed half marathons in Bridport, Bournemouth, and Weymouth and in 2021 I completed the Portland half marathon. I want to challenge myself to complete the full Portland Marathon in 2024, as a personal challenge, and to raise funds for the Hub, a service which has become a lifeline for myself and many other veterans.
Huntington’s is a degenerative disease that affects me in various ways, which includes mobility. I am constantly fidgety, stumble, and find it hard to walk/run. This will be an incredibly challenging task and I am hoping to complete it over 2 days, with support from a team at the Hub who will be joining me on this journey.
You can find out more about Huntington’s Disease via the link below. My aim is to raise at least £10000 for the Hub, so that they can continue to provide much needed support to veterans, their families, and those still serving.
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