On Sunday 8 June, twenty-five runners took on the Worthing 10k to raise crucial funds for Care for Veterans, a Royal Star & Garter Home.
The Care for Veterans team featured a combination of newcomers, seasoned runners, and four wheelchair participants, including Stephen Merridue, Morgan Woods, and veteran residents Steve Boylan and Ed Sampson.
Army veteran Steve Boylan served in Kosovo and Afghanistan before a devastating road accident left him with a brain injury that impacted his mobility and speech. Thanks to the support of the Care for Veterans team, Steve has been working hard to regain as much independence as possible. During the event, his close friends and former Royal Engineer colleagues rallied around him—pushing his wheelchair and cheering him every step of the way—so he could be part of this uplifting and unforgettable day.
RAF veteran Ed Sampson, who served in the 75th Signals Unit during periods of international tension in the 80s and 90s, suffered a stroke in December 2023 that caused paralysis on his left side. After six months of intensive rehabilitation at Care for Veterans, Ed regained enough independence to return home to his wife and family. For the Worthing 10k, he completed the course in his wheelchair with support from his wife, Vikki.
The fastest Care for Veterans participant was 22-year-old Morgan Woods, who lives with a neurological disorder affecting his peripheral nerves. In his specially adapted racing wheelchair, he made an impressive time of 36 minutes and 9 seconds, followed by Stephen Merridue, who was pushed by his father David, at 49 minutes and 59 seconds.
The Care for Veterans team managed to raise nearly £4,000. High Value Events and Corporate Manager, Clare Silva, said,
“We’re incredibly grateful to all our brilliant runners, fundraisers and volunteers for raising such a fantastic amount. Thanks to their support, the disabled veterans in our care can continue to access the vital services they need to rebuild and maintain their strength and independence.”
Care for Veterans has provided long-term nursing care, respite, and end-of-life care to disabled ex-Service personnel since 1919. As the charity receives no regular Government funding, fundraising at events like the Worthing 10k is instrumental to the continuity of the first-class care they offer.
Looking for your next challenge? Sign up for our Firewalk Fundraiser on Saturday 20th September at Worthing Rugby Club. Be a brave ‘sole’ and walk barefoot across hot coals to raise vital funds for disabled veterans and their families. Click here to sign up now.
