A FORMER Dubbo man now serving in the Australian Army will run the Townsville marathon in full armour to raise awareness of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
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Corporal Brian Heilbronn, who attended Dubbo South High School, will take part in the August 3 event in memory of his former Commander Paul McKay, an Afghanistan veteran who had been diagnosed with PTSD and went missing for two weeks before his body was found in the mountains of New York State.
Corporal Heilbronn had worked with Captain McKay in 2010.
"I worked with Captain McKay for a year, deploying with him to Malaysia on a training exercise," he said.
"In early 2011 he was deployed to Afghanistan where on his return home he was diagnosed with PTSD.
"That was a psychological battle that he lost when he took his life last year."
Corporal Heilbronn will compete in a full 42km marathon as part of the Townsville Running Festival in 10kg of combat body armour to help draw attention to the issues that face serving soldiers when they return from overseas deployments.
"There's still a big stigma surrounding PTSD and mental health, not just in the Defence Force but in the general public as well, with soldiers worried that seeking help with PTSD may prevent career progression," he said.
"Because I've had my own issues with PTSD, it was hard to come to terms with the fact that Captain McKay had suffered more than I had.
"It was a bit of a shock; he was the first person I've known directly who has taken their life.
"At the Townsville Running Festival I'll be wearing my tiered body armour system, which is the ensemble we wear in training and on operations, and is basically body armour and webbing in one.
"I hope that the get-up will raise a lot of eyebrows and cause people to start talking more about PTSD and how the community and organisations like Soldier On can help ease returning soldiers through their transitions from deployment."
Soldier On, he said, was an organisation that linked the community and returning service personnel.
"They enhance rehabilitation, inspire service men and women to overcome obstacles in their day-to-day lives either physically or mentally, and enable them to live fulfilling and rewarding lives," he said.
Support is available for anyone who may be distressed by phoning Lifeline 13 11 14, Mensline 1300 789 978 or Kids Helpline 1800 551 800.