A WREXHAM veteran is set to hike up Snowdon to raise funds for Help for Heroes later this year. 

The first ‘Heroes Hike’ up Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) will raise money for military charity Help for Heroes and will take place on 18 May, 2024.

It is the second of a new series of four hikes taking place across the country, in which a group representing Help for Heroes will take on the hikes in aid of charity.

The first takes on the Lincolnshire Wolds, on April 6, with the other events taking place in the Yorkshire Dales (August 3) and on Dartmoor (September 14).

One man who knows only too well the benefits of such a hike and also how the funds raised can make a difference to a veteran’s life is 53-year-old Chris Jones, from Wrexham.

Chris was a driver in the Royal Corp of Transport until he was involved in a life-changing road traffic accident. He was left with severe injuries, including a broken back and jaw, which left him immobile and in a coma for five months.

Just as he was coming to terms with life after his accident – including living with chronic pain and a medical discharge – he lost his hearing completely.

Chris battled on for 18 years and, finally, in 2007, he underwent an operation to fit a cochlear implant. It had an immediate positive effect – but his problems weren’t over.

As the world went into lockdown in 2020, the impact of being home alone hit Chris hard. While many turned to video-calling, Chris could not hear the conversations or lip-read what people said.

He recalled: “Communication was so difficult; I was in despair and isolated. There were days when I felt suicidal.”

But the support of Help for Heroes enabled him to overcome his fear of the prospect of groups of people and leaving home, and, in summer last year, he joined a team of veterans and staff from the charity in hiking up Snowdon.

It was a massive undertaking under the circumstances – and a step-change in his life.

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He explained: “Everyone has been so compassionate, helpful, and understanding. I now receive regular visits from Help for Heroes staff who are helping me find new ways to feel part of things.

“When I was younger, I would climb Snowdon quite a bit. Last summer, the sport and fellowship team at the charity helped me summit Snowdon once again.

“It was so tough, and very painful because of my chronic pain, but I had to do it. It took me six hours to get up there with the support of the team. Together we took it 10 steps at a time and I’m so pleased I achieved that climb one more time – it feels like a miracle.

“I can’t stress how brilliant the team have been to me. I’m looking forward to attending more events with the charity, including, hopefully, May’s Heroes Hike, and have been growing my confidence using technology to communicate with people again.”

Registration for the hike is open to anyone aged 12 and over, more information can be found at h4hweb.com/HeroesHikes or on Help for Heroes social pages.