Just before 9am this morning, Monday, July 31, the inspirational Daniel McNeil crossed Cardigan Bridge on his 16,000 mile journey around the UK to raise funds for SSAFA.
Dan set out from Dumfries and Galloway on March 15, 2021 carrying a bag that weighed 15kg ‘but feels like a feather, shoes that feel like socks and a waterproof jacket as good as seal’s skin.’
“Yes, I get bad days because I’m just human, like everyone else, and I end up crying. But sometimes I need to feel that, and know that the next day is another day to pass on kindness and inspire other people.
“I’m feeling more connected than ever with nature, with the most incredible sunrises and sunsets and the most amazing people who I’m meeting along the way.
“Doing this walk is probably the best thing I’ve ever done in my life.”
During the past week Dan has continued walking despite the strong winds and rain and has even been forced to sleep in bus shelters when no accommodation was available for him.
Two years ago Daniel McNeil’s life was in a very dark place.
He smoked, drank, gambled, took drugs and even contemplated suicide.
Then, thanks to the support of SSAFA, Dan began turning his life around. He is currently walking 16,000 miles around the UK, to raise funds for the charity that helped save his life.
“Three years ago, my life was very different,” he told the Tivyside, in that refined Glaswegian lilt.
“I’d been in the army for five years and then found out I had a debilitating auto-immune disease called ankylosing spondylitis which meant I couldn’t’ walk and sometimes had to crawl around on the floor.
“Obviously I had to leave the army and my mental health went downhill. I was contemplating suicide, I drank, I took drugs, gambled, and I just didn’t have any purpose.
“But SSAFA helped me turn my life around.”
Dan is now controlling his auto-immunes disease by adhering to a strict gluten-free diet.
“The disease is diet-based so whenever I eat wheat, I get a flare up. But when I manage what I eat, everything’s good.”
Dan plans to reach his destination at Dumfries and Galloway in around five months.
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