Helping those with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Chris Ledgard may not have been on the frontline in conflict zones during his 16 years in the RAF, but as a Chaplain he did take the strain of counselling personnel, some of whom were very distressed.
Towards the end of his service, Chris found his job harder as the pressures of helping men returning from the Falklands war and Ethiopian famine relief mounted. Then, in 1985, many of his friends in the RAF band were killed in a coach crash in Germany. When they were flown home for burial, Chris was responsible for supporting some members of the RAF Musical Services during repatriation of the bandsmen and offering care to the bereaved.
Soon after Chris retired from the RAF and returned to civilian ministry. Several years later he became unwell and suffered a breakdown. The RAFBF issued Chris with a grant to help with some unforseen costs and referred him to Hollybush House, the Combat Stress home we help fund through our donations. While there Chris was diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
"Because of the help of the RAFBF and Combat Stress, I have my life back again," Chris can say today.