Rick Carey has more than his share of traumatic memories, but they won’t stop the resourceful former serviceman from using past experience in an attempt to help others build a better future.
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The 63 year-old Bibbenluke resident will embark on a 16,000km ride around Australia in a replica WWII motorcycle to raise funds and awareness for people with PTSD this August.
Rick, who served as a combat medic and with Britain’s Elite Royal Army Physical Training Core from 1970-1986, was diagnosed with PTSD himself in 2006.
His own battles with post traumatic stress followed a distinguished military career which saw him serve in a number of troubled areas including South Sudan.
He said his own struggle with PTSD was a result of a number of personal traumas he had experienced.
In addition to his years of service, he also encountered traumatic events whilst working as a fire fighter, while the death of his wife from breast cancer and his son’s diagnosis with epilepsy and type one diabetes also contributed to his condition.
“When you’ve had a lot of disasters, you wait for the next one to come along,” he said.
He said PTSD instilled “an obsessive compulsion to recount traumatic events”.
Rick will complete the journey on a bike that is a replica of the bikes that were dropped in to Normandy by parachute regiment during the war.
He will complete the ride in full combat uniform and said he expects his ride to attract plenty of attention and fundraising dollars.
He is aiming to raise $30,000 for charity Talking 2 Minds- which supports returned soldiers living with PTSD and will also donate to Soldier On if he raises in excess of his initial target.
Rick said the ride would present challenges, but his resourcefulness and military experience would get him through.
“The top end will be a challenge with the possibility of breakdowns, punctures and the need to maintain a water supply,” he said.
He said he planned to start his journey on August 17, setting off from Bombala in south east NSW and finishing at the Bombala Bike Show on November 16.
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