Ian Waddell the 69 year old ex Sergeant Major who ran 100 miles in two days to raise money for war veterans received a hero’s when he arrived at the finishing line in Abergavenny on Saturday.
The Town’s Mayor, The Lord Lieutenant of Monmouthshire, Councillors Alan Breeze and Chris Woodhouse and local MP David Davies were amongst the crowd who gathered to greet Mr Waddell.
Mr Waddell was raising money for Combat Stress which was set up to help ex members of the Armed Forces who are suffering from post traumatic stress disorder and other mental health problems as a result of their service. Many extra people are now in need of help after seeing service in Iraq and Afghanistan .
At the welcome ceremony David Davies spoke of his anger at the manner in which ex-servicemen are being treated.
“Young men and women who risk their lives for their country and receive physical or mental injuries whilst doing so should be given help as a matter of urgent priority. At present highly traumatised and injured service personnel arrive back in Britain from the frontline to be told that they will have to wait at the back of a long queue for treatment. In one recent incident a wounded soldier was put onto a ward with civilians and ordered to remove his uniform in case it “caused offence.” This is scandalous.
""I salute Mr Waddell for his tremendous efforts and I am delighted to support Combat Stress which is a first rate charity. But I am mindful that it is the responsibility of all politicians to remember that those who suffer whilst fighting for their country have a right to expect more when they return home.""