TWO thrillseekers are racing high speed motorcycles to raise awareness for PTSD victims after they lost their soldier pal.

Jamie Alderton served in the army which sadly left him suffering from post traumatic stress after the things he had seen on duty before he died last year.

Ally Hodge and Scott Murray had been in a racing team called JAM entering competitions and cheering each other on with Jamie before he died last year.

Now they are racing for the first time since losing him but plan on taking Jamie’s memory with them.

Cumnock Chronicle:

They are preparing to compete in the racing Scottish Championships at the end of the month and have got stickers made up for their motorbikes raising awareness for combat stress.

It’s their way of taking Jamie with them on another ride and keeping him a part of JAM.

They are also raising money for Colostomy UK after Ally was given just two days to live after developing bowel disease.

He was given emergency surgery and a second chance at life leaving him desperate to make it count.

Ally, from Auchinleck, said: “It was the three of us who decided to start racing and decided to call ourselves JAM since it was all our names.

Cumnock Chronicle:

“It was our own little thing and we just formed a team. We raced in the superbike championship which is high speeding motorcycles.

“We lost Jamie last year he passed away after struggling with mental health problems from his army days.

“We are going to Spain to ride the bikes and prepare for the competition after being off the past six months due to the weather.

“It’s emotional racing without Jamie so we want to do this in tribute to him. We had all met each other through riding motorcycles.

“It was a passion for thethree of us and to take it as far as we can is the dream.

“He wouldn’t want us to be sad and give up, that wasn’t who he was. He was a really happy go lucky guy so he would be cheering us on.

Cumnock Chronicle:

Robert Marsh, Director of Fundraising, said: “Veterans wait on average 13 years after leaving the military before seeking help from Combat Stress for mental health problems.

“We know there are more veterans out there struggling in silence. We strongly encourage them or their loved ones to call our 24-hour helpline on 0800 138 1619.”