"Without the Fund I wouldn’t be able to do the sport I love"

Archery has been a lifeline for RAF veteran Mick Curran who, after a car accident in 1992, experienced a multitude of health conditions. Thanks to the RAF Benevolent Fund providing mobility equipment and a sports wheelchair, Mick is able to participate in the sport he now loves, and will be utilising his skills in this years’ Veteran Games.  

Mick Curran, 57, began his career in the RAF aged 17 in 1984 and went on to work as a policeman, serving for a total of 12 years. 

However, eight years into his career, Mick was involved in a car collision which resulted in severe continuous pain. Following his accident, as a result of his injuries, Mick was medically downgraded from Armed Police shift duties to working in RAF Police Special Investigations. After leaving the RAF, Mick worked for Anglian Water as a Project Manager before becoming self-employed, until he became chronically ill in 2010 and was unable to recover.

Since then, Mick has been diagnosed with multiple medical conditions including chronic fatigue, complex PTSD, neuropathic pain syndrome which doctors cannot work out the cause of, angina and disassociate disorder. With his health taking its toll, Mick got in touch with the RAF Benevolent Fund to see how the charity might be able to support him.

He said: "I had, and still do have, chronic fatigue and struggled to walk distances. I got in touch with the Fund who carried out  an assessment and was given a scooter and then an electric chair which have made an enormous difference to the quality of my life."

While recovering, Mick discovered a passion in archery and took up the sport in 2019, later qualifying as an archery judge in 2022. During April 2022 Mick was fortunate enough to be chosen as the only UK Archery judge at the Invictus Games held in the Hague, Netherlands.

Mick said: "Archery has been a lifeline for me – I now shoot in county and national level competitions for my club Waterwheel Field Archers in Lincoln and the RAF Archery Association."

The Fund has helped Mick with his archery, funding his equipment, mobility aids and recently in 2023, a new sports wheelchair. Mick explained: "I have only been able to do my archery activities because of the RAF Benevolent Fund – without the support I have received I wouldn’t have been able to get involved with the sport I now love."

"Archery has helped me not only physically but mentally too, it's really improved my mental health. The equipment and chair have enabled me to keep going and to have a positive outlook on life."

As well as mobility equipment, the Fund also provided Mick with a respite break with the National Gulf Veterans & Families Association. 

Mick will be representing the RAF Benevolent Fund in the 2023 Veteran Games in Israel, taking place on 27 May – 2 June 2023. 

He said: "I'm really looking forward to taking part in the Veteran Games. I'm not the sportiest person but I will get stuck in as it will be in a relaxed environment with other veterans who have been through similar experiences. I can't wait for the shooting exercises as I can use my archery skills."