A former soldier who battled personal demons after returning from Afghanistan has made it his new mission to help others facing the same issues.  

Graeme Carolan, 35, who served with the Royal Regiment of Scotland, turned to alcohol and survived a suicide attempt before lifting himself from the doldrums to focus on his mental health and physical fitness. 

He is now tackling the Loch Ness Marathon in to raise funds for Scotland’s foremost veterans’ charity, Erskine Veterans Charity, which supports former soldiers like himself. 

Born and raised in Edinburgh, Graeme’s family has a long-standing history of military service.  

His great-grandfathers fought in the Second World War, one captured at St Valery during the evacuation at Dunkirk and the other contributing to the liberation of Europe post D-Day. 

 Graeme's own military career spanned four years, including a tour in Afghanistan in 2011, and it left a permanent mark on his life.  

Since leaving the Forces, he has been impressed by the work that Erskine carries out between its homes in Renfrewshire and Edinburgh, with a new Activity Centre in Highlands also on the way. 

Soldiers deploy from a Chinook helicopter in the desert at the start of an operation to purge narcotics factories in the Upper Sangin Valley, Afghanistan. (stock pic)Soldiers deploy from a Chinook helicopter in the desert at the start of an operation to purge narcotics factories in the Upper Sangin Valley, Afghanistan. (stock pic) (Image: Cpl Rupert Frere RLC)

He said: "Though I only served for four years, my time in the military absolutely shaped who I am. I’ve never had a sense of belonging, or the kind of bond with people like those I served with. There’s always been a sense of unfinished business, and that’s part of why I want to give back to the veteran community now. 

"Erskine’s support is real, it’s tangible, and it’s tailored specifically for veterans. They help those facing the unique challenges of life after service, whether it’s adjusting to civilian life, mental health struggles, or finding a sense of belonging again.” 

The frontline emergency service worker has seen firsthand the struggles many veterans endure and has even survived his own battle with mental health challenges. 

He added "As someone who’s struggled with mental health, and whose job involves suicide intervention, I’ve seen how often veterans find themselves on the edge.  

“I’ve been there myself, and sadly, we lose so many on a near-daily basis, including people I served with. We need to do more as a society to help those who’ve served and address the unique challenges that they face. 

“That’s why I decided to run for Erskine. Erskine is close to home and offers real and targeted support, tailored to veterans and their needs, such as transitional accommodation for those whose life circumstances suddenly change, assisted living for longer term care, and activity centres to bring together the community. It’s real support for real people, right on my doorstep, and the results are plain to see.” 

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For more information on how to support Graeme's fundraising efforts for Erskine, visit Graeme's Loch Ness Marathon 2024 for Erskine 

This will be Graeme’s fourth marathon but his first raising funds for veterans. After running the Edinburgh Marathon in 2014 in memory of his sister, he’s now aiming to complete the Loch Ness Marathon, on Sunday, September 29th, in under 3 hours and 30 minutes. 

 Graeme’s journey to this race has been deeply transformative; it marks nearly one year since he gave up alcohol and began focusing on his health and fitness.  

 He said: "I’m proud to support Erskine and the incredible work they do for veterans. This marathon is about giving back to those who’ve served, to those still serving, and to all the people who’ve helped me get to where I am today."