A Royal Navy veteran from Warfield is set to drive across the UK in a £500 VW Golf.

Neil Sait, 60, will be honouring his fellow servicemen while raising money for Help for Heroes.

Mr Sait joined the Navy in 1980, aged 16, and served until just before the end of the decade, experiencing 'horrors' in several conflict zones.

He will take part in the Veterans Honour Rally, a car and bike rally with up to 100 teams, which is taking place from September 2 to 7.

The rally will travel from the Staffordshire Arboretum to a celebratory parade in Rhyl, North Wales, passing through popular coastal towns including Skegness, Lowestoft, Brighton, and Torquay.

Mr Sait explained that about 10 years ago, he was on the brink of homelessness after going through a divorce.

He said: "I was one step from becoming homeless.

"While staying with my sister, she observed some very odd behaviour and sent me to see the GP.

"I explained how odd I was feeling about stuff – the flashbacks to serving in the 1980s.

"I was getting memories of stuff that I’d wiped entirely out of my head.

"And I started to question ‘was this really me?’ Did I really have a previous life like that?

"I was then introduced to Help for Heroes’ Hidden Wounds team and that was when post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was discussed.

"I am so grateful to them for their exemplary support and counselling without which I would not be where I am today."

This is Mr Sait's fourth time participating in the rally after discovering it on Facebook in 2019.

He said: "Some veterans were kicking around an idea to raise funds for charities supporting serving members and veterans.

"The idea was a gumball-style car rally, from the UK to Gibraltar, in a vehicle costing no more than £500.

"What could possibly go wrong?

"I found a 20 plus year old VW Golf Cabriolet on eBay, for £360, but Covid hit, so the first Veterans Banger Rally altered course and ran a similar number of miles around the UK coast."

Mr Sait's Golf has seen quite a bit of action, having travelled around the UK, and to Gibraltar and back - twice.

Mr Sait is now in a 'great' place, enjoying his job and life, but knows many veterans are not as fortunate.

He has a message for them: "Veterans displayed their courage in many ways during service.

"But perhaps the bravest thing they can do now is open up and come forward for support.

"There’s no stigma attached.

"People don’t judge in 2024.

"Whether you need physical or psychological support, Help for Heroes can help you.

"It’s just down to you being courageous enough to take that first step: a call, an email, or, simply, asking a loved one to contact the charity.

"Whatever way, please do it.”

Help for Heroes’ Hidden Wounds service provides free and confidential psychological wellbeing support to veterans and their loved ones.

In the last year, Hidden Wounds saw a 13 per cent rise in new referrals.

To support Mr Sait in the Veterans Honour Rally, visit his Just Giving page.

For support from Help for Heroes, visit helpforheroes.org.uk.