Helping families like the O'Rourke's

Matt joined the Royal Artillery fresh from school in 2000. Leaving after four years, he still maintained a passion for military life so rejoined the Armed Forces, this time with the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment. 

Deployed to Afghanistan in 2011, Matt was on patrol when he came under fire. Sustaining an injury to his lower spine, it meant the end of his Army career and the start of a terrible few years for him and his family.

As well as the physical limitations his injury brought, Matt felt convinced he’s let his comrades and family down. He found himself drinking heavily, and suffering with anxiety and depression. 

Through Help for Heroes, Matt says his life has got better and better after being unable to see a future.

“The support has rebuilt me. I’ve accessed the Help for Heroes Hidden Wounds service with my wife for my mental health, built a business, gone back to college and am doing a degree. None of this would’ve happened without Help for Heroes. The Charity showed me what I’m capable of.”