Ten miles, eight years, £1 million – fundraisers march for veterans’ mental health
Supporters of Combat Stress, the UK’s leading charity for veterans’ mental health, have raised an incredible £1 million over the last eight years through the organisation’s annual fundraising challenge March in March.
The event sees participants walk 10 miles in March in a show of solidarity and support for former service personnel living with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Since its launch, thousands across the UK have laced up their boots to take part in March in March, raising vital funds to help Combat Stress deliver its life-changing specialist mental health services. Last year alone, nearly 12,500 veterans benefited from the charity’s support.
This year the challenge raised a staggering £388,317, taking the total raised since its inception in 2018 to £1,071,711.10. Being a virtual event, with no physical race start line, participants over the years have taken on the challenge in increasingly unique ways: from commando crawling across a beach, to cycling on a MOTOmed movement therapy bike (due to having cerebral palsy) to running continuously around a running track for 48hours (trading 10 miles for 200 miles!).
To date, 10,696 people have been inspired to take part since the challenge’s inception, with well over 100,000 miles covered in support of veterans with complex mental health issues.
Robert Marsh, Director of Fundraising at Combat Stress, said: “We are staggered and delighted by the support we have received through this challenge over the past eight years.
“It’s thanks to each and every one of our selfless and dedicated supporters that we can meet the high demand for our services and be there for those veterans, and their families, who need us.
“March in March is such an accessible and fun event, We’re looking forward to it being even bigger and better next year!”
To find out more about Combat Stress’ March in March challenge, or to sign-up for 2026, visit: marchinmarch.co.uk