On the 20th September 2019, 200 veterans and volunteers set off on a 50 mile march along Hadrian’s Wall. The three day event was organised by Paul ‘Coco’ Cocoran, retired Senior NCO in the Light Infantry, and his second-in-command, Ian Kenny. Undaunted by the challenge, each marcher carried decorated bricks in their backpacks.

Each brick was dedicated to a service person who died in combat or at home. Some were dedicated to veterans who took their own lives after struggling with their mental health. Paul wanted the march to raise awareness of the issue of post-traumatic stress disorder in the military.

“If you think of a veteran having problems, he forms an imaginary brick and throws it into his rucksack. If he falls out with his partner, that’s another brick, until he’s weighed down and can’t cope. We want to highlight the issue of PTSD.” – Paul Cocoran (Gov.uk 2019)

Paul raised nearly £100 000 for the Rifles ‘Care for Casualties’ Appeal.

Listen to Paul and other veterans who took part in the march speak about why it is so important to raise awareness of PTSD and mental health in the military:

Video is no longer available.