Crowds of Canberrans gathered at Government House on Tuesday 28 June, to witness an incredible feat of human endurance for a worthy cause.
In recognition of National PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) Awareness Day, the former strongest man in Australia attempted to pull a 10-tonne fire engine 50 metres in record time, hoping to smash a Guinness World Record.
Grant Edwards geared up as a current FearLess Ambassador to raise funds and support for an organisation close to his heart, hosted by Their Excellencies, The Governor-General of Australia, the Honourable David Hurley (Ret’d) and Mrs Linda Hurley.
“This record attempt is more than achieving a personal goal, it’s about raising awareness of PTSD in our community, and the important work of Fearless,” Grant said.
“I suffer from Complex PTSD, and I know how tough it is to acknowledge having it. I want people to know that it is still possible to lead a full life.”
Describing the power and training it takes to pull a weight the average person could never attempt, Grant responded with a literal answer that inadvertently describes what it means to have PTSD.
“Strength is important, but it’s about being able to sustain that load…”
His words are a quintessential analogy for living with PTSD – surviving the traumatic event takes strength, but the aftermath of living with the effects of the trauma is a lifelong load people carry every day.
“I call myself a statistic; I’m one of the statistics on both sides in terms of attempting to take my own life but also as having PTSD. So, it’s kind of cathartic when you start to get clarity about what you can do to help others, not end up where I ended up,” Grant said.
“For me, it’s about talking about it and talking about my experience, and hopefully it will encourage others who are suffering alone in silence. We need to talk about the stigma of it all, and the stigma is still alive, but it’s about normalising it.
“It needs to be understood – not just in general, but in workplaces and the community. It’s something that people shouldn’t be ashamed of. It’s not the fault of the individual when they’re exposed to trauma.”
Even though the day hadn’t ended as everyone had hoped, there was not a single look of disappointment from any member of the group when Grant unfortunately was unable to break the record – only cheers of encouragement were heard throughout the gardens of Government House.
“I would have loved to have broken the record, but the attraction point was getting everybody here, and I’m glad we did, and if we can get that message continually out so people understand ‘it’s okay not to be okay’,” said Grant, after his attempt.
“It’s not a bad thing, but if you don’t do something, you’ll never be able to properly live with it. You’ve got to take ownership, you’ve got to start yourself, and then you’ve got to seek treatment and educate yourself.
“I thought I could at least get through to the finish, but that won’t stop me. I’ll keep looking and keep going … I’m determined to do it.”
In the wake of Grant’s attempt, Mrs Hurley was quick to lighten the mood and embraced him with open arms singing ‘You are my sunshine’, and just seconds later the crowd joined in for a moment of harmony.
Part of the motivating crowd was local Guinness World Record holder herself, Jessica Cameron, who in May lifted an incredible 4935kg to raise funds for Integra Service Dogs Australia.
The Governor-General also commemorated the day with some words of wisdom, thanking Grant and acknowledging Australians living with PTSD.
“We know, however, that it is not just in the veteran community – over one million Australians suffer from PTSD, out of uniform. So, this is a big issue in our country,” he said.
FearLess CEO Alex Gerrick was also among the gathering of supporters and said it’s a common misunderstanding that PTSD only targets military personal or first responders, and support for sufferers of the disorder is needed now more than ever.
FearLess works with people living with PTSD and their families with community-based organisations and government agencies in Australia and New Zealand.
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