The Team

 Born in South Africa, Jaco came to Britain aged 20 to pursue his ambition of serving in the British Armed Forces, which he achieved in 2007 when joining the Parachute Regiment. In 2009, during his second tour of Afghanistan, Jaco sustained severe life changing injuries, including the loss of his left arm below the elbow, when he was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade following his platoon’s 45 minute fire fight with enemy forces. 

Fortunate to survive and following multiple operations and rehabilitation, Jaco has become an inspiration to many with his continued achievements. As well as competing for the Combined Services Disabled Ski Team and undertaking multiple marathons, he was also a member of the record-breaking ‘Walking With The Wounded’ team who trekked unsupported to the North Pole and narrowly missed reaching the summit of Everest due to adverse weather. Jaco also made his international para-cycling debut in 2013 and has since secured medals at multiple World Championships, most recently as a C3 category rider securing golds in the scratch race, kilo and omnium.

Adam recently left the Armed Services after a 27 year career. Adam first joined the Army in 1992 with the Queens Lancashire Regiment which then amalgamated with other Regiments to form The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment.

Adam rose through the ranks reaching WO1 and was given the opportunity to become the Garrison Sergeant Major at Warminster Garrison.

He served his country in many conflicts and was posted to Iraq, Afghanistan, NI and Bosnia on many different occasions. Adam was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) in the 2016 New Year’s Day honours list.

Towards his later years in the forces, Adam was commissioned to Captain in the The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment. He was given the opportunity to become a unit Welfare Officer and careers manager.

On leaving the Army, Adam studied at Northampton University and graduated with a Master’s Degree. The qualifications Adam gained from university, gave Adam the perfect start into the world of education where he works currently. Adam is now employed at The Blackpool and Fylde College as a lecturer and tutor for all Merchant Navy Officer Cadets.

In his spare time, Adam is a keen sportsman and is currently on the British Triathlon Team. He is married to Katie and has a son called Dexter (11) and Florence (6)

Adam is also the Founder of the Fleetwood Community Triathlon Hub,. Anyone that subscribes to join the club will also be supporting us to provide the much need help and support to veterans across Lancashire, which include those In Fleetwood and surrounding areas. 

 In 2010, Mark was deployed on operations to the Nadi- Ali district of Afghanistan, it was his 16th year of service in the British Army. The area was a well-known trouble spot that was notorious for heavy sniper fire. On 28 May 2010, Mark was leading four-man patrol sent from the platoon base to investigate an Improvised Explosive Device at 41 West, Qudrat.  Whilst out on a routine patrol, Mark’s platoon came under insurgent fire and he was shot by a Taliban sniper, he says that ‘I looked down and saw that the left hand side of my body armour was covered in blood, I then blacked out’. 

 Upon evacuation to Camp Bastion, Helmand Province it was discovered that the sniper bullet had passed through his neck, leaving him paralysed from the neck down and with severe injuries to the spinal cord.  He returned to Selly Oak Hospital, Birmingham and was placed in an induced coma for six days and it took another four weeks to stabilise him from the extreme pain that he had. 

He then spent two and a half years at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre, Headley Court undergoing physiotherapy.  Ultimately he became more mobile.  Mark’s rehabilitation and recovery has been long, painful and challenging but he has shown extraordinary determination and has defied medical expectations. He can now walk again, but it is with difficulty. 

Mark was selected to be a kayaker for the GB Sprint Kayaking squad.

Mark has also undertaken Dragon boating.  In 2014 he represented his club in an international competition in China.  In 2015, Mark was selected to represent Great Britain paddling with an able-bodied crew in the European Dragon Boat Championships.  Mark was a founder member of Purple Warriors – the UK’s first dedicated dragon boat racing team for ex-Service personnel impaired by their service in some way.  The Soldiers’ Charity has assisted with a grant for Purple Warriors.

Parents of Jordan Bancroft 

Tony and Sheila have very Kindly allowed us to name our building after Jordan who was sadly killed in Afghanistan 10 years ago. Jordan was a friend of our MD and he also served with Jordan in Iraq. When Tony and Sheila kindly allowed  us to name our building BANCROFT HOUSE we then knew this would be an amazing legacy not just for Jordan but his family too. 

Both Tony  and Sheila will also be great Ambassadors to Us. They are already a massive part of the Healthier Heroes family. 

Dan Searson

Dan Searson is the owner of Challenge The Wild, a company that specialises in providing outdoor challenges, expeditions and hikes to the veteran community.  During his military career, as an Army Officer in the regulars and reserves, he was deployed to the Balkans, Africa and the Middle East; and led military expeditions to the Pyrenees, Machu Pichu, the Sierra Nevada, Dolomites and Mount Kenya. He was awarded the GOC Home Command Innovation Award for Training during the COVID pandemic.

Dan has worked as a mountain leader for many years, successfully guiding teams across the UK, Europe and Africa, notably across the Picos de Europa and Sierra Nevada mountains in Spain, to the summit of Mont Blanc, to the Alps, Iceland and to the Grand Canyon. 

Dan has extensive experience in Event Management and has personally run challenges for many high-profile organisations.  He is currently undertaking an Open University Course in Project Management, holds a Post Graduate Certificate in Humanitarian Response; and has been awarded certificates in Health and Safety, Mental Health Awareness and Medical Planning.  Dan thrives on working closely with our veterans; ensuring they achieve their aims through a rigorous approach to planning and delivery.

www.challengethewild.com 

🌟🌟🌟🌟Exciting announcement 🌟🌟🌟🌟

We are excited to tell you all that we have a new ambassador Chris Mark Oliver  

We are very fortunate to have Chris join our amazing team as our Ambassador. We are looking forward to working with Chris while he works with us too help the Veteran's we support. 

Chris has said 

“I am excited and incredibly privileged to have been asked to become an ambassador for Healthier heroes.

This is a fantastic opportunity of which I am truly humbled to be given the chance the help raise awareness and support these fantastic servicemen and women”.

Chris Oliver’s Bio: 

Chris Oliver is a former Special Forces Operator with 16 years combat experience within the elite Special Boat Service. 

Chris has deployed on operations to Sierra Leone, Northern Ireland, Oman, Afghanistan, and Libya before leaving the military in 2015.

Chris, a former Royal Marine Mountain Leader who grew up in the Northeast of England and joined the military at the age of 16 said, “Joining the military is something I wanted to do for as long as I can remember”  

“Although nothing will ever replace the feeling of going into live operation in the dark of the night standing side by side with your brothers ready to engage in combat to ensure the safety of others” 

Chris is very busy working on many projects such as SAS Who dares wins, as well as his guest speaker appearances and many other Ventures. We are all very proud and delighted that Chris is joining the team as our Ambassador