Basingstoke veteran awarded by Combat Stress at ceremony

Richard Eburne, who served for four years in the Territorial Army Signals regiment, received the award on Thursday, February 22, for his work raising money for the charity with his employer, Unum.

Richard, who left the Army in the late 1990s, volunteered to build and lead a UK group for his company's veterans network, which began a partnership with Combat Stress and signed the Armed Forces Covenant.

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In 2023, Richard ran the London Landmarks Half Marathon, as well as the London Marathon, in aid of Combat Stress, with a 3kg medicine ball handcuffed to his wrist to represent the 'unseen burden of mental health problems carried by so many'.

Richard said: “I am over the moon to win this award but can’t help but feel so undeserving having met some of the other fundraisers and supporters, who are simply amazing.

“My mantra will always be that no matter how hard the challenge, the difference that Combat Stress make to veterans’ lives is worth every drop of effort."

Robert Marsh, director of fundraising at Combat Stress, said: “We are extremely grateful to Richard for his tireless and selfless support for veterans’ mental health, both via the brilliant Unum veterans’ network and his own personal fundraising efforts.

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"We are therefore delighted to present him with the Corporate Fundraiser of the Year award.

“No other charity does what we do. We provide the most comprehensive veteran mental health treatment service in the UK, but we couldn’t do it without selfless fundraisers like Richard."

More than 120 fundraisers and veteran volunteers attended Combat Stress' annual 'Extra Mile' awards at the Cavalry and Guards Club in London.

Richard was presented with the award from General Sir Peter Wall, former head of the British Army, and President of Combat Stress, at the ceremony.