A servicewoman who was medically discharged from the RAF has praised a little-known charity for helping her cope with post traumatic stress disorder.
Lorna Smyth from Aberchirder has just returned from a life-changing 10-day motorbike tour of the US, thanks to Bike Tours for the Wounded.
Set up by members of the British Army’s motorbike display team, the non-profit organisation raises money to take wounded and sick serving and veteran personnel on tours across North America.
Based at RAF Kinloss as a flight operations assistant with air traffic control, Miss Smyth travelled to Iraq, Afghanistan, Northern Ireland and the Falklands to investigate crashes.
During her time in the RAF, the 33-year-old lost 21 friends and colleagues in the line of duty.
What she saw at crash sites left Miss Smyth suffering from nightmares and flashbacks and in November last year she was medically discharged from the RAF with post traumatic stress disorder and a serious back injury.
Prior to her discharge, Miss Smyth had spent five months in hospital.
But Bike Tours for the Wounded is helping her turn her life around.
She said: “I’d heard about the organisation and I felt that I would like to try and push myself out of the deep rut I was getting myself into.
“Just a few days before the trip the anxieties of it all hit like a train but I was fortunate enough to have made friends online with another veteran who suffered the same conditions as myself who was also going on the trip, and together we pulled ourselves through the anxiety.
“I got on the Harley on the first day and by the time we had our first stop an hour later, I was in tears. But not tears of sadness – it was the first time in over two years where my head was clear, I didn’t have PTSD knocking on the door.
“The only thing there was room for in my head was the beautiful scenery and the thrill of being on the bike. It was sheer relief and bliss and a moment that should be bottled up and sold to everybody.”
Bike Tours for the Wounded is continuing to raise funds for future trips and is seeking bike enthusiasts who can contribute time and skills.