A FORMER Army competitive skier from Northlew has spoken of how his return to the slopes with a Help for Heroes supported ski experience in Austria has helped give him a renewed purpose in life.

Grant Harvey, 45, recently joined 11 other veterans and serving personnel for a well-being skiing trip to Stubai, Austria, thanks to Help for Heroes’ Plymouth Recovery Centre.

The five-day ski trip was aimed at empowering those involved to reach their potential. It gave the group valuable time to think and the chance to form friendships with people who have been through similar situations to themselves.

Grant was a sergeant in the Royal Military Police and while his unit was preparing to deploy to Afghanistan he got his shock diagnosis of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis.

He had asked for medical advice about a pain in his right arm and said the diagnosis came out of the blue.

‘For me it was a whole new world,’ said Grant. ‘I didn’t know what multiple sclerosis was, let alone what it does to the body.’

He added: ‘My legs had gone numb. I couldn’t walk properly, I couldn’t run properly. I had to hold on to banisters.’

After 23 years’ service he found himself medically discharged. Because of the day-to-day unpredictability of his condition he struggled to find work and initially embarked on a career as a professional athlete. He joined the Armed Forces Para Snowsport Team as a downhill racing skier and discovered a new passion for wheelchair rugby; winning gold and bronze medals at the Invictus Games.

Grant no longer skis professionally and said the trip was a lifeline for him: ‘For me skiing is absolute freedom. It gets me away from the wheelchair, gets me off crutches. It’s just complete freedom. For me it’s the best feeling in the world.’

Help for Heroes has recognised that Grant’s sporting skills are of huge benefit to both his physical and mental well-being and has grant-funded a specially adapted sports chair, as well as contributing towards funding a rugby wheelchair. He now plays wheelchair rugby for the West Country Hawks and is hoping to compete in the next Invictus Games.

Grant said that the support he has received has helped him find a renewed purpose in life: ‘Because of my illness, the fatigue is just a mammoth killer. So, to have Help for Heroes help me is just fantastic. I can’t say thank you enough.’

Help for Heroes offers support throughout the year from its recovery centre in Plymouth and community locations across the South West. To get support or give support visit www.helpforheroes.org.uk

l Veterans and their families in the North Devon area are able to access regular help, advice and sporting activities with Help for Heroes. Sessions are held on the second Tuesday of each month, between 10am and 2pm, at the North Devon Leisure Centre in Barnstaple for anyone wounded, sick and injured through military service.