UK bike memorial ride for soldier after suicide

Memorial bike ride for Lee
Friday, 10 August 2012

A gruelling 214-mile cycle ride over four days from Tenby to Warsop, in Nottinghamshire, is taking place at the end of the month in memory of Lee Bonsall.

Twenty-four-year-old Lee tragically committed suicide in March, after suffering in silence from ‘Post Traumatic Stress Disorder’ (PTSD) and was found by his wife Serena in their Tenby home.

“Lee had been suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after serving in Afghanistan, he gave no indication of how bad his depression was and he hadn’t received the help he needed,” explained Serena, who is one of those taking on the cycling trip from Tenby to Lee’s original home town of Warsop.

“Obviously this has been the most traumatic time of life and I never thought I would be a widow at the age of 24. Out of all of this sadness though, I feel it’s important to do something positive and raise awareness of this terrible illness, not only for Lee, but for others who have suffered this life-changing condition.

“On average, veterans wait 13 long years before contacting Combat Stress for help.

That’s too long to suffer in silence, so let’s work together to battle the stigma of service-related mental ill-health,” added Serena.
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