Paralysed war veteran becomes first to walk across UK on crutches for bereaved military children
A paralysed war veteran has – on crutches – finished a walk of about 1,000 miles from John O’Groats to Land’s End, to raise funds for bereaved military children's charity, Scotty's Little Soldiers.
It's understood that Mark Harding is the first disabled person to walk the entire length of the UK, 13 years after the veteran was shot through the neck while serving in Afghanistan, completely shattering his C5 and C6 spinal segments leaving him paralysed from the neck down.
Despite being told multiple times he would never walk again, Mr Harding slowly started to regain some movement so decided to take on a challenge his doctors would never have thought impossible. He said: "As a result of nerve damage... I can’t have children now [so] for me, this has been a way of helping everyone else's kids.
"It's a way for me to have a really positive impact on children's lives."
Mr Harding began his Big Miles For Little Smiles Challenge on 13 May this year to raise funds for Scotty's Little Soldiers, a charity that supports hundreds of children and young people who have experienced the death of a parent who served in the British Armed Forces.
Starting in John O'Groats, the veteran walked through Scotland, passed his hometown of Carlisle, then travelled through Penrith, Lancaster, Preston, Warrington, Shrewsbury, Hereford, Bristol, Cornwall and lots of towns and villages in-between.
He finished at the iconic Land's End signpost, where he was greeted by members of the Armed Forces community and interviewed live on ITV's This Morning by Andi Peters and Rochelle Humes.
His epic journey has taken 104 days. Mr Harding said: "This has been the most mentally and physically difficult thing I've ever done – I can't believe it's over, to be honest.
"I've seen parts of the country most people don't know even exist and met so many great people on the way.
"I've loved seeing people's reactions when they find out what I'm doing and the support from everyone has been incredible.
"This is obviously a massive thing for me and I'm just grateful I can help raise money for Scotty's."
He added: "Due to my injury, I have no feeling in my right leg and my foot drags when I'm tired, so I did the walk on crutches with everything I needed for the journey in a rucksack."
His journey has not come without challenges.
When the veteran was in Kingstown, he was hit by a van and took a blow to his leg. He said: "I was chatting with a couple about Scotty's on my way down to Kingstown when a van reversed over me.
"My rucksack got stuck beneath it and I was getting sort of dragged along on the concrete.
"The couple I was chatting to were banging on the side of the van to get it to stop.
"I'm lucky it didn't keep going or I'd probably be dead."
Mr Harding has received a huge amount of support from the British Public, as well as special letters from King Charles, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Minister of State for Veterans' Affairs Johnny Mercer MP.
Today, he also received the Prime Minister's Points of Light Award – presented to outstanding individuals making a positive change in their community.
Johnny Mercer MP, Minister for Veterans' Affairs, said: "Lance Corporal Mark Harding refused to be held back by the injuries sustained serving his country.
"He brilliantly showcases the commitment of veterans across the country.
"I want to thank Mark for his excellent work fundraising tirelessly for third sector charity partners who do so much to support our ex-military personnel."
Speaking about these acknowledgements, Mr Harding said: "The recognition I've received is amazing, especially from the King.
"It blows me away to think I wrote a letter to the King and Queen and they actually took the time to read it and respond.
"I think it really just highlights how important the cause is that even the Royal Family took the time to acknowledge it."
Mr Harding started his challenge shortly after the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III, which he commemorated by carrying a flag of The King for the duration of the challenge.
He said: "I'm already thinking about my next challenge.
"Being disabled, a lot of people write you off, especially if it's an obvious disability, like if you're missing a limb or in a wheelchair.
"I don't mean that in a bad way – it comes from a decent place – but I think you're seen as a bit more fragile.
"But a lot of the people I served with who were also injured have gone on to do really amazing things.
"That military mindset doesn't just leave you because you're disabled."
The veteran attributes this mindset to part of the reason he's been able to defeat such a massive challenge, saying: "I was always looking ahead, always thinking about reaching the next town.
"It kept me focussed and that's why I've been able to do so well.
"Even on my rest days, I was walking four or five miles – it all adds up.
"It was the same when I was recovering from my injury – I just took one little step at a time and eventually it made a really big difference.
"I constantly want to keep on progressing and pushing myself, I think I've always been this way.
"When I was in the Army, I always wanted to be as good as I could be.
"Even when the doctors told me I was paralysed, I was focussed on keeping the ball rolling, keeping my momentum going, because that's how I improve."
Since 2012, the former soldier has been taking on extreme fundraising challenges for military charities that mean a lot to him and in 2021, was named ITV's Pride of Britain Regional Fundraiser of the Year.
He is also a finalist for the Soldiering On 2023 Inspiration Award.
However, even for someone as experienced as Mr Harding, this challenge hasn't been easy. He said: "This is the pinnacle of everything I've done up to now, really.
"The hardest bit was definitely walking on the A roads with all the cars speeding past my shoulder.
"It's a bit of a mental game, especially after getting hit by the van in Carlisle.
"I've always got that 'what if' in the back of my mind."
Scotty's Little Soldiers is a tri-service charity dedicated to supporting children and young people (0 to 25 years) who have experienced the death of a parent who served in the British Armed Forces.
Inspired by the experience of Army widow Nikki Scott, following the death of her husband Corporal Lee Scott in Afghanistan in 2009, the charity, which was set up in 2010, provides support and guidance to hundreds of bereaved military children and young people throughout their childhood.
Scotty's has more than 600 members and services offered include access to child bereavement support, guidance to parents and carers, personal education and learning assistance (including grants) and fun activities such as holiday respite breaks and group events.
These are all designed to remind the children and young people supported by Scotty's that they are not alone.
Of Mr Harding’s challenge, Scotty's Little Soldiers Founder, Nikki Scott, said: "He's done it.
"What Mark has achieved for bereaved British Forces children and young people is absolutely incredible and I can't thank him enough for his dedication and support.
"I know how much this challenge has meant to him and everyone at Scotty's has loved seeing his updates and hearing how he's doing.
"I hope over the next few days he's able to relax and reflect on the unbelievable thing he's just done and take in what an inspiration he is."
If you want to donte to Mark Harding's Big Miles For Little Smiles' fundraiser visit justgiving.com/bigmilesforlittlesmiles
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