Veterans to climb in Sayami's design

Updated on 12 Jul 2022

A team of staff, supporters, and veterans – including one whose mobility is aided via a wheelchair following a serious brain injury – will be scaling the highest peak in South Wales, Pen Y Fan, on 15 June.

And the veterans will be wearing a specially produced T-shirt designed by six-year-old Sayami, from Mount Street Infants, in Brecon, who won a competition to create a unique souvenir of the occasion.

Last year, a six-strong team of veterans representing Wales won the Charity’s national virtual spring games. They had such a great time together, that they’ve stayed in touch and decided they’d like to carry out a further challenge this year.

The team included a ‘ringer’, West Sussex-based, former Royal Marine James Cobby, 30, whose mobility is aided by a wheelchair following an accident that resulted in a serious brain injury, but who has been defying doctors’ prognoses ever since. James stepped in to fill the gap left by a last-minute withdrawal and has been regarded as an honorary Welshman ever since.

Six-year-old Sayami and her winning design

One of the organisers, Sport, Activity & Fellowship Lead Nick Vanderpump, explained: “There was such a great spirit within the team they decided they wanted to undertake a further challenge together and, with the benefit of an all-terrain wheelchair – and his fabulous support team – James will be there again at the forefront of it. They’re all such great friends now, it’s heart-warming.

“The idea of the climb is not to fundraise, but to demonstrate the value of fellowship and personal goal setting for veterans on their journey of recovery. And this concept is a central tenet of what we do at Help for Heroes.”

The five-strong team taking on Pen Y Fan comprises Cobby, from Shoreham-by-Sea; Liam Mountain, from Bridgend; Matt Neve, Swansea; Jason Tamplin, Newport; and Donna Davies, who lives in Hengoed.

T-shirt competition winner Sayami will be presented with the first off the ‘production line’ at her school. Her design will adorn the veterans as they climb Pen Y Fan, and will, soon, be available to purchase from the Charity’s online shop, priced £25 for adults and £18 for children.