David 'Smudge' Smith

When I was asked to do my Testimonial I was concerned about going back to think of what I'd become. from being a happy go lucky guy wanting to make other people laugh and having a good time, to an obnoxious, argumentative drunk which put me in deep depressions with loss of understanding of where my life was also getting myself arrested like a cry for help.

What I lost in my life were my own independence, friends, family,  money,  sociability,  in fact was planning to end the hole I was in when I moved up north to Manchester back home to my routes.

Without a job I was forced to go to the job centre and sign on the unemployed list (stressful). After 6 months I was asked to see Shaw Trust where I met Bob Elliott, who is a member of the VIA.

After a few meetings I met other VIA members where we soon made a friendship bond and started to look forward to our next meetings. I learnt to trust people and also myself until I built much courage to go fund raising.

I couldn't even speak until a few people walked up to me saying "what a fab job you guys were doing" never had someone say that before specially to me and it felt good and all I wanted was to be with my new friends I've just made.

I lost my friends and family due to the way I was but I found new ones and they understand me like civvies don't  

I learnt to be myself again. As working with other guys I learnt I wasn't alone, people had other problems which showed mine to be trivia and now those people know I AM THEIR FRIEND and they can TRUST me to have a chat if they liked to..

In my picture you can see I was sitting there looking over Loch Lomond, proud to wear my beret and wearing my VIA waterproof. 

I took a second to look at what just happened in my life in such a short time. I don't know if you have seen any other pictures of me on the VIA web site but am smiling... and a few months before I couldn't smile.

The VIA has shown me that it doesn't matter who you are and problems but has shown me there is an escape..!!

The walks the fund raising the other activities. Now all that I can see for the future is being with the VIA because now I got my life back and now I have been given a chance to help others which now is my passion.

To all the VIA guys that read this am proud to know you all and hope we get to meet each other soon!!!!

Smudge