“You’re running for all of us”: Man reaches halfway point of 900-mile PTSD awareness run

After more than 560 miles on foot, Dave King is running for everyone who feels unable to speak openly about trauma.

The 50-year-old from the UK is currently making his way through Leominster towards Hereford as part of an extraordinary 900-mile run from John O’Groats to Land’s End, raising awareness about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and donations for the charity PTSD UK.

From John O’Groats to Land's End

Now over halfway through his 31-day challenge, aptly named 'Every Step Towards Recovery', Dave has raised more than £2,700 and sparked countless conversations about PTSD and complex PTSD (C-PTSD) with people across the country.

“From my first step at John O’Groats back on 1 May, I’ve been moved emotionally by all the incredible people I’ve had the pleasure of chatting to,” Dave says.

“Every person has either had their own story of the impact of PTSD or C-PTSD, or they have supported someone else.

“It just goes to show how big of an impact this is having in our day-to-day lives. And the only reason people are speaking out to me is because I’m literally flying the flag for them to be seen and heard.”

Running with the reality of trauma

Dave is carrying a five-foot PTSD flag on his backpack during the challenge, stopping in towns and villages to speak to anyone who wants to talk. His daily YouTube updates document not only the physical strain of the run, but also the emotional reality of living with C-PTSD.

The journey has been far from easy. Dave has openly shared moments of emotional exhaustion and mental struggle during the challenge, including several days where continuing felt too overwhelming.

But part of the power of the challenge lies in Dave’s honesty. Rather than presenting recovery as a linear process, he is showing the reality of what it can look like, which is often difficult and exhausting, but still possible with support.

Lived experience of C-PTSD

Dave has lived with C-PTSD for more than 30 years following trauma that included military service, repeated mental health crises, homelessness, psychiatric hospital admissions, and a suicide attempt.

One of the defining moments in his recovery came during a stay in supported accommodation, when a mental health nurse named Andrew arrived with a clear plastic ruler.

At the time, Dave had withdrawn completely, sitting in darkness and closing the curtains whenever anyone opened them. Without judgement or pressure, Andrew opened the curtains by exactly one centimetre.

“That’s enough for today,” he told him. “I’ll see you at the same time tomorrow.”

Each day, the curtains opened slightly more. Around a month later, they were fully open, and Dave was sitting up and engaging again.

That one centimetre has since become the philosophy behind 'Every Step Towards Recovery', that healing happens gradually, through small actions and compassionate support.

“I want to show that it is OK not to be OK,” Dave says. “And that people don’t have to suffer in silence.

“'Every Step Towards Recovery' is a step I’m taking both physically and emotionally for everyone living with this lonely and isolating disability.

“Together we can stand strong and together we can be heard. Because every step we take, we leave an imprint of our road to recovery.”

Opening up about trauma

According to PTSD UK, around 2.6 million people in the UK are living with PTSD at any given time. While the condition is often associated with military experiences, trauma can stem from many life events including abuse, bereavement, bullying, accidents, traumatic childbirth, or growing up in environments shaped by fear.

And for Dave, the conversations happening along the route matter just as much as the miles covered.

One person reportedly booked a GP appointment after speaking with him during the run. Others have sent messages describing how seen and understood they feel watching his journey unfold online. Somewhere in Scotland, during the early days of the challenge, a stranger shouted from a window as Dave ran past:

“You’re running for all of us — be our voice.”

Jacqui Suttie MBE, CEO and Founder of PTSD UK, said: "What Dave is doing is extraordinary, but not because of the miles. It's extraordinary because he's having real conversations with real people, every day, about something that for far too long has been kept quiet."

More information about Dave’s fundraiser.