Liverpool Veteran Raises Over £1000 On 84-Mile Walk For Tom Harrison House Charity That Saved His Life

CITY OF LIVERPOOL, LIVERPOOL CITY REGION.

The British Veteran, Rick Hall, Was Supported By Tom Harrison House & The Block Armed Forces Foundation In Liverpool

(Credit: Supplied/Image was provided to The Liverpudlian with permission to share, courtesy of the Publicist on behalf of their client. We make no claim to this content).

Rick Hall, a veteran who once suffered from severe addiction and trauma, has raised over £1000 for Tom Harrison House — a veterans addiction treatment centre that saved his life.

The Block Armed Forces Foundation and Tom Harrison House, based in Liverpool, put Rick on the right track after multiple suicide attempts and rescued him from a dependency on drugs and alcohol.

The Block Armed Forces Foundation is a grassroots charity that is run by veterans for veterans. The much-needed organisation offers veterans support, emergency accommodation, coffee mornings, drop-ins, signposting, workshops, courses, retreats and more. Since forming in November 2020, they have helped countless veterans, with Rick being one of their most profound success stories.

“I want to show others that it is possible to completely transform your life. To give back, I am now a peer mentor and a point of contact for the other veterans who are going through the same things I have.” - Rick Hall, a British Armed Forces Veteran.

As a consequence of his harrowing experience in the infamous Deepcut Barracks, a situation which he ultimately knew he had to leave, Rick descended into a dependency on drugs and alcohol and became homeless. The veteran could not see where his life was going until a life-changing moment arrived in July 2022.

After he was found in the A&E unit of a local hospital with a zip tie around his neck, Rick was referred by the NHS Op Courage to The Block in Liverpool, who housed him and offered him support — before referring him to Tom Harrison House. He describes this referral as “the best thing that’s happened to me in my life!”

The Block’s Colin Eastaway, a Special Forces veteran who runs the The Block alongside a team of volunteers, provided Rick with accommodation, food, electricity, a phone, support and signposting. In January 2023, Colin referred Rick to Tom Harrison House to complete a 12-week programme that would see him finally be free from the grasp of addiction.

Rick Hall, a British Armed Forces Veteran, said: “I’m lucky to still be here and it’s thanks to Colin, The Block and Tom Harrison House that I still am. I have turned my life around massively and the 12-week programme at Tom Harrison House has helped me address deep-rooted issues and completely reprogram my beliefs, thoughts and triggers. It’s been a hard process, and it’s ongoing, but I finally feel free to be the best version of me I can be.”

Two years since leaving Tom Harrison House, Rick continues to be the best version of himself, continuing to improve day by day. Driven by his desire to give back to the charity that once saved his life and prove to others that it is possible to turn your life around for the better, Rick now volunteers his time at Tom Harrison House.

Rick added: “I am a living example of how The Block and Tom Harrison House save lives. I want to show others that it is possible to completely transform your life. To give back, I am now a peer mentor and a point of contact for the other veterans who are going through the same things I have. These organisations need funding though, and my fundraising effort will provide vital money for Tom Harrison House.”

Not only is Rick volunteering his time, he has just completed an 84-mile walk along Hadrian’s Wall to raise money for the charity that has played such an important part in helping him to regain his life. Amazingly, Rick accomplished the mammoth walk in only 4 days.

Over the first three days, he walked 40 miles, accompanied by friends. On the fourth and final day, the inspiring veteran walked 44 miles in 12 hours to reach the finish line! During the entire walk, Rick wore two flags, one representing Tom Harrison House and the other for Climb 2 Recovery, to maintain his motivation and remind him why he was embarking on this challenge.

(Credit: Supplied/Image was provided to The Liverpudlian with permission to share, courtesy of the Publicist on behalf of their client. We make no claim to this content).

Rick has raised over £1000 to help veterans who are in the vulnerable position that he once found himself in. The veteran’s inspiring nature does not end at his charity work either. During a retreat with Tom Harrison House, he met a fellow veteran who recommended Climb 2 Recovery, a charity which supports wounded, sick and injured veterans through climbing.

“I’m lucky to still be here and it’s thanks to Colin, The Block and Tom Harrison House that I still am. I have turned my life around massively and the 12-week programme at Tom Harrison House has helped me address deep-rooted issues and completely reprogram my beliefs, thoughts and triggers.” - Rick Hall, a British Armed Forces Veteran.

After a life-saving excursion run by Climb 2 Recovery, Rick discovered a passion for mountain climbing. Now, he has completed his Learn to Climb and Learn to Lead courses and, incredibly, is about to embark on completing his Rock Climbing Instructor qualification. There was once a point in his life where he thought that something like this would be impossible, but Rick’s determination has opened multiple doors for him.

Speaking about his recent journey with Climb 2 Recovery, Rick, said: “I am doing this qualification so that I can develop my own leadership skills and introduce rock climbing to other vulnerable adults. I want to prove to veterans who are in the position that I once was in that it is possible to turn your life around if you want to. You just have to show up to be able to do so.”

The combination of Rick’s charity fundraiser and his newfound ambition to become a rock climbing instructor is living proof of the integral work that The Block Armed Forces Foundation and Tom Harrison House do. The inspiring story of people such as Rick is testament to the work these organisations do to help veterans take the steps that they need to embark on a new path and escape their darkest hour.

The Block Armed Forces Foundation is a veterans organisation that bridges the gap by offering veterans support, emergency accommodation, coffee mornings, drop-ins, signposting, workshops, courses, retreats and more. Meanwhile, Tom Harrison House is a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre specialising in veterans.