An Army veteran is planning to become the first triple amputee to complete the London Marathon in the hopes of showing others with a disability or injury what can be achieved “with the right mindset and the right support network”.
Former corporal Andy Reid, who lost both legs and his right arm after stepping on an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan in 2009 when on patrol with the 3rd Battalion, the Yorkshire Regiment, expects it will take him 12-13 hours and 80,000 steps to complete the 26.2 miles.
The 49-year-old, from St Helens in Merseyside, will also be walking the route on Sunday in honour of the seven members of his regiment, his friends, whom he lost, saying: “I’m still here despite my injury, so I’ve got to make the most of life.”
Mr Reid told the Press Association he is taking on the challenge “to show other people with a disability or injury what can be achieved with the right mindset and with the right support network around them”.
He continued: “New Year’s Day I started the training, I did a four-mile walk on New Year’s Day and then twice a week since then I’ve been out walking.
“I’ve put the hard work in.
“I climbed Kilimanjaro a couple of years ago so I know what kind of mental strength these things take when it gets a bit tough, where you’ve got to dig in, and I know why I’m doing it – to hopefully inspire some other disabled people and because some of my friends didn’t come home from Afghanistan unfortunately, so out of respect for them.
“I’m still here, so I think it’s only right to try and do these things and remember them guys and girls as well who paid the ultimate sacrifice.
“I’m still here despite my injury, so I’ve got to make the most of life.”
The veteran is hopeful that he will complete the marathon quicker than expected “with the crowd there and the atmosphere”, which he said will be an improvement on “walking round and round in circles or up and down the local bypass” on his own during his training.
His wife will be cheering him on on the day alongside people from the Army Benevolent Fund (ABF), which helped him after his injury.
Near the finish line, the former corporal plans to pay his respects at the Iraq and Afghanistan memorial in Victoria Gardens.
Asked what emotions he will be feeling when he finishes, Mr Reid told PA: “It’ll be one of relief, really, I think, and obviously accomplishment.
“I will sit and reflect afterwards when I get back to the apartment and think wow, that was amazing to be able to achieve that.”
He will be raising money for the ABF and for his own charity – the Standing Tall Foundation – which provides mental health counselling, addiction, housing and welfare support to veterans and communities in his home town.
