Millies 2017: Overcoming Adversity

The two winners of the Military Awards 'Overcoming Adversity' category are forces veterans Luke Wigman and Ibi Ali.

Both overcame serious injury to successfully take on one of the toughest races in existence - the World Marathon Challenge.

It consists of seven marathons, in seven days, on seven continents.

After being presented the award Luke said:

"I think we both had struggles at different points. The important thing is to think 'how do I get through today?'"

Ibi added:

"The real motivation is to make sure others have the same opportunities I did." 

Luke was injured in Afghanistan, and Ibi was injured in Iraq - both went through specialist treatment at Headley Court.

They took on the marathon challenge to raise money for the centre's replacement, along the way facing some of the most extreme conditions the planet has to offer.

"Pain" and "fear are the words Luke and Ibi use to describe their memories of their efforts.

"You have to focus on the moment you're in," says Luke.

"When I was running a marathon in Dubai and I was struggling, I wasn't thinking about the following day - I think I gained that from the military."

The pair clocked up more than 360 miles between them from starting in Antarctica, to the final race in Sydney, Australia.

Luke and Ibi sought constant motivation from knowing they were helping fund the new Defence and National Rehabilitation Centre at Stamford Hall.

Luke says:

"It gave you the motivation to dig deep when times were tough, and just to get to the end."

"If we could just help one person go through rehab...we're happy with that," says Ibi.

The result of pushing their bodies to the limit is near to a million pounds raised for the new centre, which opens in October 2018.