Serving in the Royal Marines is one of the most demanding roles in the Armed Forces, with deployments to conflict zones like Iraq and Afghanistan leaving enduring impacts on many. Peter dedicated himself to the Corps with twenty-five years of service, but it came at a cost.
Peter grappled with significant mental health issues but was overcoming his challenges with the support of dedicated military medical teams.
Things were further complicated by personal hardships, including a marriage breakdown and losing custody of his two children.
Transitioning from being a full-time father and husband to a divorced parent without custody of his daughters was an emotionally devastating experience. However, Peter never gave up and after years of struggle and considerable financial sacrifice, he finally gained back parental care of his two young daughters.
As he continued on his path to recovery, he struggled to rebuild his bond with his children. Recognising the need for additional support, he reached out to RMA – The Royal Marines Charity. The welfare team listened to his needs and gave Peter a grant to purchase camping equipment. He was then able to take his children on holiday which gave them invaluable time to rebuild their relationships and make new memories. The experience also had a positive effect on Peter’s own mental health and overall wellbeing.
Peter said: “Thanks to the help from you guys, the children have had an amazing first camping experience. The camping equipment the grant helped us buy will go a long way in bridging the gap to our little family for more future adventures to come.
We spent four nights in the tent on a really lovely safe, friendly camp site where the children explored and made new friends, their confidence grew and grew as they explored and found their way around and they developed their own independence. By day three they no longer wanted
me ruining their street cred!
It all went far too quickly but we are already looking forward to the next opportunity to get away again. It was a resounding success for us. We are all extremely grateful.”