Carly's Story

Veteran Don Simpson had been a great supporter of Combat Stress for many years and when he sadly passed away unexpectedly, his daughter Carly set up a personal tribute page in his memory.  

“My dad tirelessly campaigned for Combat Stress. His empathetic nature gave him a drive to help other veterans who like him struggled with daily life after leaving the military. 

Dad served for his country and fought in war zones where hundreds of thousands of people died. He also worked for the UN and made decisions about clearing land that was full of mines, saving communities with his decisions.

All the good work my dad did came at a cost. He got up every day fighting a battle in his own mind. What a brave and strong man he was.

Growing up with him was sometimes quite a challenge. I honestly believe I wouldn’t have been able to enjoy him with his diagnosis of chronic PTSD without the support he received from Combat Stress. They changed his life dramatically. 

After Dad’s passing, we as a family decided that we wanted his already fantastic efforts to raise funds and awareness of Combat Stress to continue, not only because dad would have wanted this, but also because we know how their support helped us as a family and that by continuing raising awareness and funds other families just like ours could enjoy their loved ones a lot longer and their time as a family be more meaningful. 

Setting up the tribute page was easy and once opened it can stay open for as long as you’d like it to, meaning people can contribute continuously. It has a more personal feel when donating in the memory of somebody you love all whilst helping others who really do need the support to live a better, more enjoyable life.”

“Setting up a tribute in memory of our heroes means their legacy lives on. What a legacy to leave behind!”

Photo credit: Vicky Dawe