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What does it take to paddle, mountain bike, and run 350 kilometers without sleep? For Sip Powers, it's about making visible the invisible struggles of veterans living with PTSD.

After 34 years of military service and the devastating loss of his wife to suicide, Sip found himself facing his own mental health crisis. Despite years of helping wounded veterans through rehab programs while denying his own trauma, he eventually reached breaking point. "My complex PTSD is like skimming a boulder that just never stops," he explains with raw honesty. "All I want is for that stone to stop and sink at some stage."

Now, Sip channels his pain into extraordinary endurance challenges that mirror the relentless nature of trauma. Having completed the Enduro 214 (all Wainwrights in one sitting during two storms) and the Enduro 7 (seven extreme events over seven days without sleep), he's preparing for his next mission: the Enduro 3. This August, he'll paddle from Fort William to Inverness, mountain bike back, then run the same route – all without sleep.

Sleep disruption emerged as a common thread among the veterans Sip worked with through Battle Back, a program helping seriously wounded soldiers rehabilitate through outdoor activities. "We're asking these veterans to hold up a job, look after their family, be civil, be good people, and they are in a world of pain," he explains, highlighting why his no-sleep challenges carry such powerful symbolism.

Beyond raising funds for Combat Stress and Mountain Rescue, Sip's mission is awareness. He believes his "skimming boulder" will finally sink when everyone knows about resources available to veterans suffering in silence. His journey highlights both the transformative power of the outdoors for mental health and the critical gaps in support for those who've served their country.

Follow Sip's extraordinary journey and support his cause by visiting the Extreme Outdoors website. His story reminds us that behind every stoic veteran is a human being processing complex experiences – and that with proper support, healing is possible.

Extreme Outdoors Website
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Combat Stress
Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue

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