Thanks to funding from Helps for Heroes, we were once again able to take two groups to the French Alps for the most exhilarating trip in our calendar of events – white water canoeing. Based in Vallouise these trips embrace the NFA ethos of “Comradeship to Challenge” and embody all that is great about the NFA; mixing veterans from the Falklands, Gulf War 91 and Northern Ireland with those from more recent conflicts, and bringing those suffering from PTSD, amputees and others with a variety of injuries – including some still serving but undergoing rehabilitation – together as a team. Teamwork is absolutely vital and together to help each other, cheer each other on and generally encourage anyone who needed it. Run by the greatest team in the business, Dave and Tom King & Mathieu, any anxiety or nervousness felt upon arrival quickly turned to great excitement and anticipation as the lads got together to talk about their first day on the river.
Kerry, a Gulf 91 veteran summed up nicely what the trip meant to him in one line “this trip has helped me to have a little more belief in myself and the things I may be capable of in the future”.
