Mark Smith, 36, went to jail for assault after leaving the army in 1996 and hit the bottom of a deep pit of depression.

Mark says his illness was triggered by the horrific sights he witnessed while serving in war zones.

But after a series of violent scrapes and two suicide attempts, he turned his life around, set up his own business and even became a dad again. He said he owes his recovery to a charity called Combat Stress, which helps veterans cope with PTSD and other mental illnesses.

Mark wants to set up mountain climbing challenges in the Lake District and Wales to raise funds for the cause.

He said: "When you leave the army, they don't train you to live in the real world. I was arrested so many times.

"Combat Stress gives you a chance to meet other soldiers, talk about your experiences and get your life back on track. That's why I want to set up a charity event and involve as many people as possible.

"I'm already working with one former soldier, whose leg was badly injured in Iraq. He's depressed and hardly goes out but we want to do this together for Combat Stress."

Combat Stress has three residential centres in the UK, taking around 60 ex-soldiers at a time.

Mark visited the centre in Audley Court, Shropshire, in 2005 – and he now says he's happier than ever, living with his partner Danielle, their son Ethan, two, and Danielle's sons Connor and Spencer.

He said: "In America, there's 1,200 treatments centres, catering for thousands of soldiers at a time. In England, there's just Combat Stress. I don't think I would be here today if I hadn't found it."

* To help Mark with the event, call him on 07530 879560.

* For more information about Combat Stress or to make a donation, visit: www.combatstress.org.uk