In July 2020, our ambassador Mark Harding completed an epic 88-day virtual crossing of the Atlantic Ocean on his kayak machine, raising over £3,000 for our charity and the NHS. To recognise his amazing efforts, he has been awarded a Certificate of Commendation by His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent.
Mark says: “It was a bit of a shock at first. It’s not every day you receive a certificate from The Duke of Kent! I just wanted to do my bit and give back to The Soldiers’ Charity and the NHS as we all went through the first national lockdown.”
Ten years ago, Mark was serving with the 1st Battalion Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment in Afghanistan when he was shot in the neck and left paralysed. When he was transferred back to the UK, he was told he would never walk again. With the support of NHS staff and his own remarkable determination, Mark began a long and painful journey back to fitness. Our charity was proud to award him a grant towards home adaptations and sports equipment to facilitate his recovery and he is now a passionate ambassador for our charity.
Congratulations to Mark on his terrific achievement.