A veteran has raised more than £1,000 for a Basingstoke mental health unit after his own battle.

WO2 Stuart Millson, a retired member of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, launched a fundraising challenge to give back to the NHS staff who aided his recovery at Juniper Ward, a psychiatric ward at Parklands Hospital, Basingstoke.

His JustGiving page has raised more than £1,000 for Brighterway, a charity that supports Southern Health by funding initiatives beyond the NHS budget.

These initiatives include garden developments, green spaces and community groups.

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Some of the staff who helped Stuart on his recovery (Image: Supplied) Stuart's journey to recovery began at Juniper Ward, where he sought help during a difficult period in his life.

Having served more than 28 years in the Army across various locations including England, Germany and Afghanistan, he found himself struggling with personal pressures, compounded by being medically discharged.

It was at Juniper Ward that Stuart began to rebuild himself, thanks in large part to the compassionate care he received from the staff.

Stuart said: "The staff were absolutely amazing - from the doctors to the cleaners.

"They were like links in a bike chain, and without them, the whole thing wouldn't work."

He credits activities like painting, yoga, and quiz nights as integral to his recovery.

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These activities provided a distraction and helped him ground himself, complementing his formal therapy sessions.

Stuart said: "Painting was so calming. It helped me eject the other nonsense going on in my head."

Toward the end of his stay at Juniper Ward, Stuart was inspired to give back after realising the impact of small contributions like a £10 donation for art supplies.

He committed to running or walking two miles every day in October to raise money for the ward.

He initially set a modest goal of £150, but the overwhelming response from his community saw him raise more than £1,000.

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The funds will be earmarked specifically to support Juniper Ward and the therapeutic programmes that were crucial in Stuart's recovery.

Stuart plans to continue his fundraising efforts for the ward every year.

He hopes his story will inspire others to seek help when needed and support mental health services.

He said: "I wouldn’t be here without them."

His fundraising challenge may have ended, but his dedication to mental health awareness and support remains steadfast.