Disabled Veteran to take part in Worthing 10k

Former RAF Flight Engineer and Air Gunner, Doug Waghorn, will be taking part in the upcoming Worthing 10k road race, as part of local charity, Care for Veterans’ Fantastic Fifty running team.

The charity has recruited more than 50 runners to join its team for the 10km route along Worthing seafront on Sunday 3 June, to help raise vital funds.

Care for Veterans, based at Boundary Road, Worthing, provides residential nursing care, rehabilitation, respite and end of life care to physically disabled ex-Service personnel and their family members. The charity, which was first set up to care for those returning from World War I with life-changing injuries, celebrates its centenary next year.

Doug is a permanent resident at Care for Veterans. He came to live at the charity in 2017 following a stroke. He explains: “I went first to a home in Lancing, which was very nice, but they didn’t have any on-site facilities. My daughter started looking around and found this place, which has the physiotherapy department. It’s much better to have it in-house as it gives you a better chance of making some progress, and I like to have a challenge. All of the facilities here are great; it has everything, so my family don’t need to worry about me.”

Doug is going to be pushed around the 10km route in his wheelchair by three staff members from Care for Veterans: Head of Fundraising and Marketing, Elizabeth Baxter, Fundraising Officer, Christine Gillott, and Marketing and PR Officer, Stewart Gillespie.

They hope to get as much sponsorship as possible for the charity, which must raise £1.9 million this year.

To show your support to Doug and the rest of Care for Veterans’ Fantastic Fifty team, go to www.justgiving.com/careforveterans to donate, or come and cheer for them on the day!