Marc’s work has seen him save 18 lives
Marc’s work has seen him save 18 lives
A dad whose daughter died when she was three weeks old said an ultimatum from his partner helped him face one of the hardest things a parent can go through. Marc Quinn, 35, was born in Toxteth and entered the care system at the age of five. He then lived with a family in Birkenhead before joining the armed forces when he was 18.
Marc told the ECHO: “I joined the army in July 2009 to get away from the gangs and types of people I was hanging around. I just needed to get away from that lifestyle.
“I’ve completed multiple tours of duty and I’ve seen friends die. The army does ask if you need help in situations like that but it’s up for the individual to say yes or no. Most people say no and maybe one in ten will admit they’re struggling and ask for support. Mental health support within the armed forces is a lot better than it used to be, but there’s still a long way to go.”
Marc is the co-founder and treasurer of The Brotherhood Charity which raises money and awareness for veterans and serving armed forces personnel struggling with mental health issues and the transition into civilian life. The Brotherhood Charity is currently progressing through the Charity Commission’s registration process and has passed the first stage of vetting.
He said: “A man called Terry Carter started it all really. He was stationed in Iraq and he was obviously really affected by seeing veterans and those currently serving suffering with mental health issues and, in some cases, committing suicide. He then spoke to me and a few other men and everything’s grown from there.
“We’ve all suffered from mental health issues and experienced mental breakdowns. I suffered from depression following the death of my daughter Scarlet in 2020. She was born on September 9, 2020 and at three weeks old she was rushed into hospital and diagnosed with sleep apnoea, epilepsy, and meningitis.
“This caused a bleed on her brain and there was nothing the doctors could do. It was horrific and one of the hardest things a parent can ever face.
“I received counselling and support through the Army and I’ve been on top of my mental health for the past two or three years because I went out and asked for help. A lot of people are too proud to admit they’re struggling.
“It wasn’t bravery that made me ask for help but an ultimatum from my partner, Marieka, because I was really affected. It gave me the push I needed. She checks in with me every day and can always tell when I’m having an off day.
“It’s only in the last couple of years that I’ve been able to talk about my daughter. The support I have from my partner and my three sons has helped me open up and begin to process everything.”
Marc wants to replicate the kind of support he’s experienced and with the charity he is working to build a stronger and wider support system for veterans and currently serving members of the armed forces.
The Brotherhood Charity will be taking on a 200 mile walk in February as a ‘show of solidarity with those who continue to fight unseen battles long after their service ends’. The walk will start in Warminster, Wiltshire, on February 24 and finish at Anfield on February 28. Twelve people will take part, walking through Gloucester, Bridgnorth, Wrexham and Birkenhead before completing the final leg from Birkenhead to Anfield on Saturday, February 28.
The Mayor of Wrexham, Cllr Tina Mannering, the Mayor of Birkenhead, Cllr Brian Kenny, and the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Cllr Barbara Murray, are all expected to attend at the respective locations to show their support.
Marc, who is still serving in the armed forces, said: “Warminster is where I’m based, which is why we’re starting there, and Liverpool is where I was born, so it feels like I’m going back to my roots.
“For it to end in Liverpool is just so special and I think I’ll be in tears at Anfield. Scousers are so community-minded and always come together to help each other out. Liverpool FC have donated a signed jersey to us which will be going to a deserving family that needs cheering up.”
Along the route, the team will stop in communities to host fundraising activities, talk to people and encourage open conversations around mental health and support for the armed forces community.
A GoFundMe page has been set up for the walk. Funds raised from the challenge will go directly towards supporting veterans and their families.
The charity is also currently in the testing stages of an app that provides help and support by having a daily check in system, using the traffic light colours of green, amber and red. The app also features chat groups, breathing exercises, mediation and wellness tips as well as a journal tool to help people set and track their goals.
Marc said: “We’ve created the app because it’s hard to see veterans suffer when they leave the armed forces. One of our co-founders has been coding it himself since October alongside his day job as a mental health practitioner. It’s not fully released yet but every veteran we have in our WhatsApp community is on the app and testing it.
“It’s hard for veterans to transition to civilian life because sometimes civilian doctors don’t fully understand what we’ve been through. For those with complex PTSD they just can’t get the help and support they need through that system.
“We’re trying to bring communities back together and create a brotherhood where people truly understand one another. It’s also about creating a space where different families are able to talk and support each other through the difficult times that come with going away on tour.”
Since August, Marc has seen the life-saving impact of the charity. He said: “Through our TikTok, where we have over 20,000 followers, and our WhatsApp group that currently has 74 members, we’ve helped save 18 lives. It’s been a hard process but a rewarding one.
“Most recently I spoke to a triple amputee who told us we’d saved his life. Before joining our group, he felt there was nowhere to turn and no one who would understand what he’d been through. Through the community that’s been created that’s now completely changed.”
Marc said: “For many who serve, the uniform comes off, but the weight of service remains. Our main goal is to raise awareness around mental health issues and make people aware of the community that is being built to bridge the gap between those currently serving and veterans.”
