An ex-soldier who was blinded by grenades in Iraq said his family pay the ultimate sacrifice.
Craig Lundberg, 37, originally from Walton Vale but now lives in Mossley Hill, was hit by by two rocket propelled grenades usually used for targeting helicopters or armoured vehicles while on his second tour of Iraq in 2007.
Still a teenager and already a commander, Craig was dispatched as part of a team to arrest terrorists when he suffered the horrific injuries that so nearly ended his life and left him completely blind. Yet, the 37-year-old managed to get up and tried to carry on fighting - a fact that led to him to receive a bravery award.
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Evacuated to hospital, he was placed in an induced coma and required metal plates in his face and left arm and plastic surgery to piece him back together. But sixteen years later Craig has taken on numerous challenges including marathons and climbing Kilimanjaro for charities.
Just 16 months after suffering his injuries, the former Lance Corporal completed the London Marathon and later started playing blind football for England. Now Craig will compete in the Veteran Games this month in Tel Aviv and his family will be able to watch.
Speaking to the ECHO, Craig said: "My family never get to come with me but this time they get to come - my wife and my three kids - get to be part of it and I think that is going to be something really special.
"I am quite fortunate that I haven't really suffered with PTSD, but there are loads of veterans out there who are struggling and suffering and I suppose it is just a good way of connecting with other veterans and saying 'you're not alone'.
"And that the struggles are shared and I think these events bring that together. Especially with sport, I think veterans are quite sporty and quite competitive and I think it is a good common denominator to share their experiences together.
"And more importantly the family members because it is OK for me, but the ultimate sacrifice is my family. They have got to live with my disability and my kids, they didn't choose a blind dad and I think it is interesting my family will get an opportunity to share their experiences with other families and other kids to see that they're not so different."
Craig will be taking part in cross-fit and swimming. The 37-year-old said training has come with its own hurdles.
He added: "It's been general training in the gym and doing circuits and things like that and keeping myself fit, which comes with a lot of challenges with being blind. Swimming in swimming pool ain't the easiest sometimes being blind.
"I have to write on my goggles in Tipp-ex 'blind', so people know to sort of stay out my way."
Speaking of his injuries 16 years ago, Craig said he still faces new challenges he wouldn't have thought about previously.
Craig told the ECHO: "In another five years I will have lived my life just as long blind as I would have being able to see which is a mad thought. I think everyday it comes with new challenges.
"And where I thought I had most of the challenges cracked as such, my family bring new challenges and new issues such as watching my kids play football and they put a thumbs up to you when they score a goal and you don't put a thumbs up back.
"There things I could never imagine that I would be facing and those little challenges. So I am facing challenges all the time but you have to get on with it and you find ways round it."
More than sixty wounded British veterans are set to take part in the once-in-a-lifetime journey to Israel. Over five days in May, they will compete in swimming, shooting and cross-fit against their Israeli counterparts in Tel Aviv but, unlike other similar events for veterans, participants haven't had to reach a certain sporting standard to qualify. The sole criteria for selection is the charities' belief that the veterans and their families will benefit from the experience.
It is also timed to coincide with the half term holidays to enable more than 120 spouses and children to join the trip, the games is built around the reality that the whole family often struggles when an injured veteran returns from war and they have a crucial role to play in their loved one's recovery journey.
The group will also have a chance to visit historical sites in Jerusalem, experience the healing powers of the Dead Sea and enjoy culinary and even graffiti tours in Tel Aviv.
The Veteran Games is organised by Beit Halochem UK, a charity which raises awareness and funds to support Israel’s wounded veterans. Beit Halochem in Israel helps 51,000 wounded soldiers and victims of terror by offering them support for the rest of their lives.
Veteran Games co-founders Andrew Wolfson and Spencer Gelding said: “Physical activity, camaraderie and the family all play a crucial role in the successful rehabilitation of injured soldiers and the Veteran Games put both front and centre.
“Medals are a great bonus but our goal is to provide an environment for veterans to challenge themselves in a way that will provide lasting benefits, while building friendships with other heroes and their families with whom they have so much in common.”
VG CEO Andrew Garland, who himself served in the Royal Marines, added “ It’s wonderful to again be bringing together so many inspirational people. For some who have taken part, these Games were the first time they have travelled abroad since being injured, or the first time they socialised with fellow veterans for many years, or simply the first time they’ve experienced a family holiday since their lives changed forever.”
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