Trek Normandy With The Royal British Legion And Support Veterans Like Harris Tatakis

Off By Ed Hanna

Harris ‘Tats’ Tatakis is a former Royal Marine Commando who lives in Cornwall and is a Legion beneficiary.

Tats joined the Royal Marines in 1998, aged 18 and saw active Service in Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan with 3 Commando Brigade. He was medically discharged in 2011 having been injured when his Land Rover drove over an improvised explosive device. The blast shattered his left leg, shin and ankle, broke his right foot, ruptured both his eardrums, and caused brain damage and later in 2016, he had one of his knees replaced. He is still recovering from his injuries today, but he is in good shape – and determined to spread the word that there is “help out there” for the Service and ex-Service community.

Notably in 2017, Tats became the first Veteran in the UK to be treated with the revolutionary ‘Levo’ treatment which uses iPod technology to administer treatment while he sleeps, organised by The Legion.

“The Legion has helped to change my life for the better” confirms Tats, adding: “If I’m honest I didn’t know a lot about what it could offer until I discovered that the charity provided support for Veterans with hearing problems. It’s fair to say that the treatment – and indeed the Legion – has given my life back to me. The Royal British Legion is out there supporting me and others like me, and I’d encourage anyone in my position to make the most of their help. The Legion is here for us whether we’re young or old and that’s a wonderful thing.”

By joining fundraising events such as The Royal British Legion Normandy Beaches Trek you’ll help us to fund the ongoing support of Veterans like Tats.

This unique four-day trek, along beautiful coastline, will fully immerse you in the history of the sites and scenery of the D-Day Landings on the Normandy Beaches. 2019 is a poignant time to visit, as this year marks the 75th anniversary of the Second World War Allied offensive: ‘Operation Overload’, often referred to as the beginning of the end of the war in Europe.

We are accompanied by an historian whose stories add relevance to the scenery and D-Day monuments along the trek, ensuring this will be an unforgettable challenge for all involved.

The route follows the legendary coastline of Omaha, Juno and Sword beaches and involves full days of trekking over varied terrain of dunes, grass and tarmac. The grand finish will take place at the strategic, Pegasus Bridge and the village of Ranville, where we will celebrate our achievements.

The trek will take place from: Tuesday 24 – Sunday 29 Sept 2019

Visit: wwww.britishlegion.org.uk/Normandy