A FAMILY with a military background completed a gruelling climbing challenge to help service personnel battling a mental health condition.

Despite being left stranded on the side of the road, seeing several team members drop out, and having to climb in pitch darkness, a determined group from Witney completed the Three Peaks Challenge to raise awareness of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Former Wood Green Secondary School pupil Chris Pardew successfully finished the mission on Sunday, raising nearly £1,000.

This will be used to create a documentary to raise awareness of the anxiety disorder, which is caused by very stressful, frightening or distressing events. Combat Stress, the veterans’ mental health charity, estimates that one in 25 veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars are likely to develop it.

Along with his brother-in-law John Old, father and former major Graham Pardew, and several friends, Mr Pardew tackled the three highest peaks in England, Scotland and Wales – Scafell Pike, Ben Nevis and Snowdon – in 24 hours.

The 29-year-old filmmaker, who grew up in Colwell Drive, said: “I’m very sore, aching, battered, and bruised, but it was all worth it.

“We experienced many setbacks over the weekend. A team member dropped out due to his father’s death and another was stranded after his car broke down the morning we were travelling.

“We departed eight hours later than anticipated.

“All the mountains were gruelling in a variety of different ways from terrain and distance to time of day – we climbed Scafell Pike from 8pm to midnight, so in pitch black with head torches.”

Mr Pardew’s father, 52-year-old Graham from Witney, was a major in the Royal Signals for 30 years, retiring two years ago. He served in Bosnia, the Falklands, Iraq, Afghanistan and many other conflicts during his three decades.

Graham Pardew said: “I actually had a squadron of soldiers myself. So you would have to send soldiers out to operations and they would see suicide bombers blow people up and see civilians killed in front of them .

“I haven’t come across people suffering, but from being in the forces I am aware it exists. The support now is so much better than it would have been 10 years ago. But we need more .”

The film Mr Pardew is working on will delve into the real-life struggles and bravery of service personnel dealing with PTSD.

It is being made in conjunction with mental health charity Talking2Minds, which was founded by an ex-SAS serviceman, Bob Paxman. A percentage of the money from the fundraising will also go to a range of military charities, as will any cash left over.

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