Veteran awarded PM’s Points of Light award for dedication to Combat Stress
Simon ‘Sip’ Powers, an ex-Army officer turned fundraiser for Combat Stress, has been awarded the Prime Minister’s Points of Light award, for the positive change he is making to the veteran community.
Sip was announced as the UK’s 2174th Points of Light recipient and was presented with the award by the Minister for Veterans Affairs. He was also written to by the Prime Minister, who personally thanked him for his work.
To date, Sip has raised over £30,000 for Combat Stress through several extreme endurance challenges including Enduro 7, where he went seven days without sleep while taking on 24-hour endurance events to demonstrate the effects of sleep deprivation on a person’s mental health. And recently Enduro 214, where he became the first person with serious health issues (Type One diabetes, a stoma and autoimmune syndrome) to conquer the self-supported scaling of all 214 Wainwrights in the Lake District in one attempt.
Sip also became a County Representative for Combat Stress, volunteering to spread awareness and generate funds for the charity’s vital mental health services, as well as setting up EXtreme Outdoors to help service personnel and veterans gain military and civilian adventure training awards while supporting their physical and mental health and wellbeing.
On his award, Sip said: “I am shocked and humbled to have been recognised by the Prime Minister through his Points of Light award. When I set off into the mountains to complete the Enduro214 I simply wanted to raise the profile for Combat Stress and the amazing work they are doing to support those in our veteran community who are struggling with their mental health.
“I have never completed any of these crazy endurance events for personal reward but when you receive something like this it makes every 710km of hike and 43,528m of ascent even more worthwhile. It's time to take a break for a bit but the planning has already started for my next extreme challenges...watch this space!”
Robert Marsh, Director of Fundraising at Combat Stress, said: “We’re delighted, but not wholly surprised, that Sip has received this prestigious award for his herculean efforts. The effort and dedication he gives to supporting veterans in need is staggering and truly inspirational.
“We could not do what we do without the support of fundraisers like Sip.”
The Points of Light award recognises, every week day, an outstanding individual volunteer, charity leader or community champion for the positive change they are making for their community.
You can find out more about Sip's award here https://www.pointsoflight.gov.uk/combat-stress-fundraiser/.
