Limbitless: Two veterans aim to reset the limits of what's possible for amputees
Two Armed Forces veterans, living with below knee amputations, are ready to reset the limits of what's possible for amputees.
Former British Army Captain Rich Potter and RAF Corporal Rich Davies are all geared up and prepared to conquer the Full Snowman Trek in Bhutan – dubbed the most difficult trek in the world.
The two close friends who formed a strong family bond, thanks in part to their shared journey on the Invictus Games, aim not just to complete it but also to set a world record as the first and fastest amputees.
The challenging Snowman Trek crosses 10 high passes over 4,500m that define the borders of Bhutan and Tibet.
The pair will be reaching altitudes of around 5,900m and wild camping every night of their month-long trek in temperatures as low as -25°C.
Speaking to BFBS Forces News, days before their journey to Bhutan, Rich Potter explained how they want to "dispel the myth" and "change the narrative" on society's view of disabled people's abilities.
Sit up and pay attention
Rich emphasised that "disabled people can do amazing things, they are some of the most resilient people I've come across in my life".
"They've got a lot to offer and hopefully society will sit up, listen and pay attention."
He added: "If Dickie (Rich Davies) and I, two regular amputees, can do this, then hopefully it will enable and inspire other disabled people to find their own challenges."
The pair both competed and won a handful of medals at the Düsseldorf Invictus Games – the international multi-sport event launched in 2014 by the Duke of Sussex after taking inspiration from the 2013 Warrior Games.
And, Rich said, beyond the medals, "we found each other".
'Same drive'
"It sounds really cheesy but everyone in the Army talks about belonging," Rich said.
"And when you're stripped of your rank and lose your uniform, all of that belonging goes, so you're a little bit clueless about what it is you want or need.
"Invictus came along, I was sitting minding my own business at a training weekend and Dickie came and sat beside me, turns out he's only got one leg, he's also called Rich, he also lives in Norwich, he's also got young children, an absolute slam dunk of an introduction.
"We hit it off instantly and realised that we shared the same drive in changing that narrative about disabled people."
He added: "There is, of course, a little bit of ego at stake as it's a world record. It's pretty cool to think that we would have a world record.
"Hopefully in 40 days, we can say we are world record holders."
The two veterans will not go on this trek alone.
Their team is eight strong, not including their 10 horses and two yaks (which will be helping with their kit, spare legs and the 16kg of snacks the pair are taking).
It is fairly nomadic in Bhutan, with no electricity, and a limited phone signal, and 90% of the trek is inaccessible by road so the only way out is by helicopter.
However, when asked if he had taken on any challenges similar to this, Rich replied: "As an amputee, the short answer is 'no'."
Pre-Army he did a couple of expeditions in Nepal but, as amputees, the pair are heading into uncharted territory.
"Altitude doesn't discriminate, once you get above 4,500m it doesn't matter how fit you are, or how conditioned you are, it can strike."
Rich says he and Dickie are feeling good, "just excited to get out there and get on with it", and are extra motivated by their shared drive.
"When you are medically discharged from the forces, you lose a huge part of your identity.
"We almost have an inferiority complex, where we feel we need to prove ourselves, some would say winning a handful of medals at Invictus is proof enough, but for us, it isn't."
"We realised we still needed a challenge... this trek is billed as the Everest of treks, it's the most difficult in the world for a reason.
"It's got a lower success rate than Mount Everest, but we thought 'why the heck not'?
"If we are going to try and set a record, why not THE record."
After finding out about the difficulties of the challenge ahead for the pair of veterans, he joked that telling his partner via WhatsApp behind a closed door was the best way to reveal what they wanted to do.
"To be honest with you, I don't think Dicky's wife Toni or my wife Ellie actually, at first, believed it would happen.
"When we booked the flights and it became certain, the reaction shifted a bit, they were still very keen but then a lot of what-ifs started happening.
"But we won't do anything that would unnecessarily put our lives at risk, therefore putting our families at risk. We are both sensible and old enough to know when something is uncrossable."
Rich called the families the "unsung heroes", as "they are the ones that not just allow us to do this, but facilitate us".
"We are both incredibly grateful for that. When we get out there, a little bit like Invictus, you have to switch off.
"If you lean too much into the emotional side of life, it can take over a significant part of your brain."
He added: "We will do our best to switch off but we are not heartless and we will try to send back videos and messages."
'One step at a time'
"When we land in the country, it's game face," Rich said.
"We've got some amazing uniform-like kit, polos with patches, that almost like our uniform and this is almost going to become our job for the next four or five weeks or so.
"It's going to be difficult but at the same time quite easy to switch off from everything and take one step at a time.
"We worked out that it's going to be roughly 500,000 steps throughout the expedition each, each step we take will be one closer to the finish line."
Rich Potter and Rich Davies are going for the amputee world record attempt of the Full Snowman Trek and in the process are raising money for Blesma, the military limbless charity, and the Royal British Legion.
"Two incredible charities who have had a profound impact on our lives."
You can follow their journey on Instagram and donate to their goal via their JustGiving page.
Rich added: "If you can't donate, sharing is so important – let's raise awareness because this is so much bigger... this is trying to change society's perception of what disabled people can do."
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