TRAITORS finalist Andrew Jenkins says Scotland’s Ardross Castle changed his life and now, with a 1,200km charity trek he has embarked upon, he wants to help others transform their lives.
The Welshman, 46, set off from the Highland beauty spot where the BBC reality hit is filmed and plans to walk for 42 days to Cardiff Castle to raise funds for brain injury charity Headway.
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It marks a milestone for Andrew who was told after a road accident that he may never walk again.
The former insurance broker, then aged, 21, was hit by a car in 1991.
He was pronounced dead at the scene and spent four weeks in a coma fighting for his life
He said: “To be told I couldn’t walk again 25 years ago and then to walk 1,200km is a big challenge.
“I couldn’t play rugby any more. It changed my direction in life, I lost my identity massively.”
The Traitors fave Andrew recently met the surgeon who saved his life after the crash and the pair chatted for hours about his terrifying ordeal.
Doctors told Andrew’s family that he had a severe brain injury and if he was to wake from his coma then the likelihood would be that he would not recognise anyone or be able to walk.
He was forced to quit his beloved rugby, which in turn had a detrimental effect on his mental health.
He added: “I tracked this man down, Professor Laing. I sent him a long email saying, ‘You probably don’t remember me . . . ’
He sent one back a few days later saying: ‘Of course, I remember you, your injuries will always stay with me.’ So I went to see him. It was such an emotional day.
“It’s not every day that you get a chance to shake the hand of the man who saved your life.
“He made me realise things, he made me appreciate life more, and made me realise how close I come to death.”
The surgeon laid bare the horror of Andrew’s injuries and spoke of the deadly outcomes there could have been.
But now, all these years later, Andrew is full of life, and shot to fame this year on BBC reality smash The Traitors a psychological game testing contestants’ powers of deception.
And less than a year after his telly debut, he returned to the spot where it all began.
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He hopes that a few of his co-stars, including winner Harry Clark, and Paul Gorton, will join him on the gruelling trek.
Andrew said: “I chose Ardross Castle to start at because that’s where the place changed my life.
“It was strange being back at Ardross Castle. I wouldn’t be here now talking to you if it wasn’t for Traitors.
“I never thought I would ever go back there. It was quite emotional, with a lot of good and challenging memories.
And he revealed his main drive for appearing on The Traitors was not to become famous but instead to raise awareness of an issue close to his heart.
He said: “I want to show people out there who have been told that they’re not good enough to maybe look at things in a different way
“I struggled with mental health for 20-odd years, behind closed doors.
“I manned up and got on with things, as the old adage was a man doesn’t have feelings and emotions — a big, strong rugby boy, doorman, gym person, supposedly doesn’t have feelings and emotions.
“So I want to show people out there that talking and opening up doesn’t make you weak — it actually makes you stronger.
“I thought showing emotions made you weak, but they don’t, it’s totally the opposite.”
Andrew will walk for 42 days and tackle mental health challenges along the way.
He will stop off at B&Bs where he’ll stay for a few nights to recharge.
Luckily, the weather has so far been “gorgeous” but the remote location of the opening part of his walk has meant there’s been no one around.
He plans to complete his epic feat at Cardiff Castle — and reveals he has a stash of Jelly Babies and Jaffa Cakes to keep him going.
Read more on the Scottish Sun
He laughed: “I can’t eat one. When I open them, the whole packet goes in about five minutes.”
To donate to Andrew’s walk click HERE.
