A Leeds man has spoken of his incredible road to recovery as he celebrated 50 days sober and off the streets by completing the Total Warrior challenge in Leeds.
In February this year, Peter Higgins was homeless on the streets of Leeds, trapped in a cycle of addiction and declining mental health. At his lowest, Peter says he tried to take his own life multiple times after losing everything to drink and drugs.
After finding support through St George's Crypt and the Growing Rooms, Peter, 47, is now hoping he has brought a permanent end to his struggles and celebrated 50 days clean with an incredible challenge. He is now hoping he can use his story to inspire others to take the first steps and ask for help and is also raising money for a children's charity.
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Speaking to Leeds Live, Peter said: "I've had serious problems with drugs, alcohol and my mental health for a number of years. It got to the point that I ended up homeless on the streets of Leeds for quite a while.
"I was at breaking point, I'd lost everything. I'd lost my family, I'd lost my job, lost my home. It was just complete desperation and I felt like there was nowhere to turn. It got to the point that I'd tried a couple of different ways to try and end my life, there was nothing left for me."
Peter said his upbringing was difficult with little love as his parents fought their own battles with addiction. Eventually, Peter was taken into care and said things did not improve there as he suffered abuse which he is still coming to terms with.
He said it is only though engaging with support at St George's Crypt that he has come to recognise the trauma he suffered in his younger years and its links to his drinking and drug abuse. Peter said: "I left home at 14, I was out on the streets most of the time.
"I've had times since when I've had jobs and a home but everything just brought me back to the drink and the drugs. Every time my mental health would just spiral and I'd be back where I'd started.
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"I'm in a stable place now, I'm 50 days clean of everything, I'm volunteering in the homeless centre and I've got a roof over my head again. Things are different this time, I've got support now and there are people I know I can turn to and talk to."
Speaking about the Total Warrior run from his new flat in Armley, Peter said: "It was one of the best things I've done in years, to get my fitness back and to complete it was just incredible.
"I'm not really an emotional person normally but when I got home from that and sat down and took it all in, it was a lot, it all sort of washed over me a bit. I'm just hoping that someone sees that I've managed this and thinks they could do it too.
"That is all I want really - to show that no matter how bad things get you can turn them around. If I can help just one person and give something back, that will be enough for me."
Peter is now planning to run 57 miles in August for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, hoping to raise money as 57 children a day are diagnosed with a critical illness. You can find more about his fundraising here.
For more information about St George's Crypt and their recovery programs you can visit their webpage here.
