Def Leppard Drummer Rick Allen Helping Military Vets With PTSD.

29 years ago, Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen lost his arm in a car wreck. But he famously rebounded from that setback and is now hoping his experience will help wounded soldiers deal with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) stemming from their battlefield experiences and injuries.

Allen recently said, “I didn’t know what my life would be like after that terrible day. It was the darkest time in my life. And, even today, I still consider myself a work in progress.” Rick says began to see how his own experience could help others when he visited the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in 2006. “I was moved by their courage, their suffering and by the very challenging journey many of them had ahead. I spent time talking to as many warriors as I could — listening, learning and sharing my own experience of losing my arm and having to rebuild my life.”

Since then, he’s invited Wounded Warrior Project participants to Def Leppard’s shows to take part in “Warrior Gatherings”. “It’s a wonderful way to draw people in,” says Allen. “And the warriors realize they’re not alone.” Rick also takes part in Project Odyssey, an outdoor rehabilitative retreat.

As if all this weren’t enough Rick is giving back even more, hen founded the Raven Drum Foundation, which provides drum circles to Wounded Warriors to encourage their healing from PTSD.

“One of the main issues is that the warriors won’t ask for help,” says Allen. “And we are really here to highlight the fact that you’re not a coward if you ask for help.” He adds, “My desire is to encourage a support system for warriors, de-stigmatize PTSD, share their stories and offers alternative ways to pave the road to resiliency and health. PTSD does not control us; we have the power to control it.”

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