RAF Veteran Chris McDowell Takes on Epic 500-Mile Challenge for Combat Stress, Stops at Oakham Tesco
Oakham's Tesco Superstore saw an inspiring visitor today as RAF veteran and current Tesco employee, Chris McDowell, 39, a maintenance technician at brought his remarkable 500-mile walking and cycling challenge to the town. Chris is undertaking this monumental feat over 15 days, all while carrying a 3kg medicine ball and a similar-weight chain, to raise vital funds for Combat Stress and champion mental health support for veterans. Chris began his journey from Tesco’s Corstorphine Extra store, in Edinburgh, on June 11th 2025.
Chris, who served with the Royal Air Force, is on a mission to visit 19 Tesco stores across his journey. His stop at Oakham this lunchtime followed an early morning visit to Tesco Melton Mowbray. After engaging with customers and colleagues in Oakham, he continued his determined trek towards Corby.
His arduous journey is set to culminate at Tesco's Head Office in Welwyn Garden City on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, June 28th, 2025. This poignant timing underscores the crucial message Chris is spreading about the importance of mental health awareness and support for those who have served their country.
The 3kg medicine ball and chain serve as a powerful symbol of the invisible burdens many veterans carry, highlighting the ongoing struggle with mental health issues. By physically enduring this challenge, Chris is drawing much-needed attention to the work of Combat Stress, a charity dedicated to providing specialist mental health services to veterans.
Members of the public wishing to support Chris's incredible endeavor can donate online, or locally, there is still an opportunity to contribute at Tesco Oakham until the end of the weekend. Every donation will go towards helping Combat Stress provide their invaluable services to veterans struggling with conditions such as PTSD, depression, and anxiety.
Chris McDowell's dedication is a powerful reminder of the resilience of our veterans and the ongoing need for comprehensive mental health support. His journey not only raises funds but also serves to spark important conversations around mental well-being within the armed forces community and beyond.
You can donate to Chris’ fundraising here:
https://events.combatstress.org.uk/fundraisers/Onemanandhismedball.
.jpg)
.jpg)
No comments:
Post a Comment
🎉 Comments Are Now Live! 🎉
Hello, Oakham and Rutland readers!
We have some exciting news to share with you: you can now comment directly on every single article on Oakham and Rutland News!
We're absolutely thrilled to be giving our amazing communities a real, active voice.
We know many towns often feel forgotten by big-name and regional media, but our mission at Oakham and Rutland News is to put local people back at the very heart of the conversation.
Now, it's easier than ever to tell us what matters most to you in your town or village, share your thoughts on local news, and connect with your neighbours. Leaving a comment is simple—just scroll down to the bottom of any article!
To keep things friendly and ensure real people are talking (not those pesky bots or fake accounts!), we kindly ask that you register with Google first.
Finally, we'll be keeping a close eye on the discussions to make sure they stay respectful and free from any bad language or abuse. This is all part of our commitment to high-quality, original local journalism that everyone can enjoy.
We truly can't wait to hear what you have to say. Your voice matters to us. Let's take Oakham and Rutland News to the next level, together!