Mark Warwick is a Veteran who served 14 years in the British Army during which time, he deployed on several Operational Tours including Northern Ireland, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. He successfully completed varying roles and responsibilities, but mostly he was involved with the Training, Coaching and Mentoring of Recruits, regular Tri-service Military personnel and Multi-National forces.
On leaving the Army in 2012 and with the skills learned and honed whilst serving in the military, Mark started his own Chauffeur car business. The ensuing brand he created, became extremely well known and respected throughout Oxfordshire, within the local communities, amongst his peers and in the chauffeur industry, ultimately becoming a successful £1/4million turnover company by year two.
Mark was officially diagnosed by Combat Stress in early 2016, as having Post Traumatic Stress Disorder – PTSD, further compounded by a debilitating spinal injury that leaves Mark in chronic pain daily, which is tiring physically, emotionally and mentally. Regardless of this, Mark works hard to demonstrate that those with physical or mental injuries can compete with their peers.
After four years filled with ups and downs, mistakes made and lessons learned, Mark’s PTSD got to the point where he became suicidal and as such he was remitted to rehabilitation within Combat Stress. The decision was made to sell his chauffeur business, so that he could better understand his condition and how he may follow his passion for helping people.
Where possible, Mark loves to raise money for Charity by planning and taking part in events, over the years he has been involved in;
- The Basrah Valentine Half Marathon, where over 450 Multinational Armed Forces personnel took part in a Half Marathon, in the searing heat of Iraq, which also included a sandstorm!
- 1000mile non-stop cycle ride from Esbjerg down the west coast, through Europe to Ranville in France, for the 60th Anniversary of D-Day.
Since leaving the military, aside from the odd Firewalk, Mark has been unable to take part in anything due to his medical condition. That is until he was put in touch with ‘Bike Tours For The Wounded’ who support Military personnel that have been subjected to life changing injuries due to their service. Their resulting experiences are nothing short of life changing and provides the individual with a new sense of purpose, clarity and reward for those who have been battling for some time, like Mark. Showing life is certainly worth living.
They offered Mark the opportunity to accompany them on a tour of Route 66 in America for 10 days, as a pillion passenger on the back of a Harley Davidson, which he duly accepted. This was not only a great opportunity, but also a huge challenge with it involving sitting on the bike for ten hours a day to cover the distances involved.
The past two years has seen Mark fight back from suicide, severe PTSD and depression, Rehabilitation with Combat Stress and receiving little or no further professional support. Therefore, this was so much more than an opportunity, it was the chance of life changing experience for him.
To help towards the costs, Mark completed a Rough Runner, consisting of a 10KM cross country route, combined with fifteen challenging obstacles that needed to be overcome. This by itself is challenging enough, however, one you have taken into account his debilitating medical injuries, both physical and mental, then you can gain an idea of what a hugely challenging and dangerous risk this was.
Through demonstrating the values Mark loves so dearly, combined with the odd bit of dogged determination and in true “cheeky chappy” Mark Warwick style, he crawled up the Travellator at the end, to successfully complete the Rough Runner, raising some £1,200. In total to date, Mark and all those who have supported him through the years, has managed to raise over a staggering £50,000 for various charities.
