We caught up with veteran and founder of Combat Fuel Supplements (the UK’s #1 military supplement company), Alex Berezynskyj. Alex talks about his role serving in the army, his struggles with mental health and the support he received to aid in his recovery. 

Photo by Alex Morris. 

Alex models the Combat Green Union Jack Sleeve T-Shirt, available here

Who are you?

Alex Berezynskyj, 30-year-old former soldier, founder and co-owner of Combat Fuel Supplements Ltd. 

What did you do in the army?

I was an infantry soldier with 1 Royal Anglian, the Vikings, and an Afghanistan veteran. Alongside my primary role as an infantry soldier, always priding myself on all things fitness, I also undertook the army’s ‘all arms physical training instructors’ course to enable me to deliver physical training to a high standard back to my unit.

Why were you discharged?

Unfortunately, in 2017, after a long battle with mental health – including being admitted to a psychiatric ward – and a fractured patella, at my medial board hearing the decision was to medically discharge me as P0. This meant I had no possible return to service or employment within the army, even in another role.

How did you hear about Help for Heroes?

I mean, who hasn’t? With the war in Afghanistan and Iraq, Help for Heroes was constantly in the news for all the vital help and support it was giving to physically injured soldiers and officers alike. Whilst going through my recovery I was placed under a PRU, Personal Recovery Unit, it was here through my recovery officer, Lenny, that I was put in touch with Help for Heroes to further assist me.

How did Help for Heroes aid your recovery?

The charity runs a series of recovery events starting with CRE’s, Core Recovery Events. These were amazing at getting me out of my shell. I started talking again; I began to acknowledge the impact my mental health was having on my life and accepted I would never be the ‘old me again’. The realisation hit that this was something I would need to learn to live with and that ending my own life would only pass the burden onto someone else – my pain would stop but my family and friends would then carry that pain. The judgement-free zone, being able to undertake therapy and talk freely without fear of being detained and being put back into a psychiatric ward was incomprehensible as to the value it made on my recovery.

Why did Combat Fuel partner with Help for Heroes?

Quite simply I wanted to give back to the charity that helped me the most. Of course, it’s a two-way thing, and Help for Heroes needed the desire to work with Combat Fuel. As a Help for Heroes beneficiary, an avid supporter of the charity, and being the UK’s #1 military supplement company, the partnership came naturally. When things are supposed to be, they just work. Help for Heroes and Combat Fuel is a real story of how important it is to help others. I was on the brink of losing everything and now we walk side by side helping other veterans.

Shop Combat Fuel in the Help for Heroes shop here 

Why do you think it’s important to support Help for Heroes?

Because our government is incapable of doing the job; Help for Heroes and all other charities shouldn’t exist, it’s a shame they even do! However, it’s vital we continue to support Help for Heroes to make up for the shortfall from those who should look after veterans’ welfare, but don’t. At the time of writing, Help for Heroes has helped more than 26,500 veterans – imagine if the charity wasn’t supported how many veterans may not be here today or in a far more dire situation had they not received the help from the charity.

Photo by Alex Morris.

Alex models the new Technical Sports T-Shirt - Shop our new sports collection here 

How are Combat Fuel and Help for Heroes working together now?

As a company we supported Help for Heroes two ways: initially, simply making donations from income generated through product sales. This evolved into a commercial partnership agreement between the two of us where, for many years, we proudly displayed the Help for Heroes logo on all our products, donating five per cent of our profits to the charity. Since a major re-brand we, sadly, were unable to continue displaying the Help for Heroes logo on our products due to international sales. We also decided to remove the soldier image from the front as we become more of a household name. However, all is not lost! We continue to make donations to the charity through products sales and match funding for fund-raising events we’re able to sponsor.

What does the future hold?

Lots! Although I have less of an active role within the company, and reducing to only working part-time, the company that I founded continues to grow exponentially. As such I’ve ensured the charity will continue to receive support from Combat Fuel. From donations, to match funding for events, through to publicly supporting the charity, anything the company and I, myself, can do, we will.

Shop Combat Fuel in the Help for Heroes shop here