Merseyside veteran Andy Reid set to become first triple amputee to complete London Marathon

Afghanistan veteran Andy Reid is set to become the first triple amputee to cross the finish line of the London Marathon.

The father of two from St Helens is hoping to complete the 26.2-mile challenge in April in around 12 hours – testing both his physical and mental strength.

He says as well as raising money for The Standing Tall Foundation, which Andy founded to support young carers, the vulnerable and care leavers, and the Army Benevolent Fund, it will inspire people to push their own boundaries and limits.

He said: “It will show people that if I can do this with my disabilities, and achieve things, then so can they, it’s about getting in the right mindset to move forward.

“It’s about looking at how and why you can do something, instead of why you can’t.”

Andy adds: “I’m 50 this year, and it’s also about giving myself goals. Had I not been injured I would like to think that I’d have done the London Marathon, it’s the most iconic one in the world.

“So this is me proving to myself that I can still do all the things I hoped I would have done without my injuries, doing them while I can – and celebrating a milestone birthday.”

Andy lost both legs and his right arm when he stood on an IED (improvised explosive device) in Helmond Province in October 2009 while serving for the 3^rd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment.

But while it was a hard road back to fitness, courage and determination has meant he’s refused to let it stop him living his life to its fullest.

He established the foundation, which offers free support services including mental health counselling, addiction, wellbeing and welfare support, and has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds with a raft of fundraising challenges from skydiving, kayaking to London, abseiling down The Big One in Blackpool, doing a 400-mile bike ride and, in 2022, climbing Africa’s highest mountain, Kilimanjaro – something he first conquered as a young, fit soldier, more than 20 years before.

Andy has already started training for the TCS London Marathon. He’s using the ThinAir Therapy that he used before Kilimanjaro and which simulates high-altitude environments by delivering precise, low-oxygen air to boost cellular health, reduce inflammation, and enhance athletic performance.

And he is clocking up the miles around Rainford where he lives, undergoing regular walks like on Saturday, when he succeeded in completing 10 miles in six hours.

He smiles: “I’m stubborn, and the foundation needs to keep going.

“It costs about £12,000 a month to run, to fund the counsellors, prevention workers and support workers who deliver our services.

“They’re services that are free to those who use them, but there’s a cost to us, and we need to keep them going.”

He has also chosen the Army Benevolent Fund as a partner charity as his way of giving back.

The ABF is a national charity which supports soldiers, former soldiers, and their families when there is need, working with and funding other organisations like the Royal British Legion, Combat Stress, BLESMA for injured soldiers, and many more.

Andy said: “They looked after me back in the day, providing a wet lift at home, a stair lift, and they sent me on a motivational speaker course to help with the career I have now.”

The marathon won’t be easy for Andy – who is currently campaigning for a new medal to be awarded to soldiers injured in combat: “The families of soldiers killed in combat are awarded the Elizabeth Cross medal,” says Andy, “but those injured receive nothing other than their medal for service for where they were based, the tour they were on.

“But like other countries such as Australia, India or America, which has the Purple Heart, I believe the sacrifice of those wounded should be recognised too, along with their pain and their struggle.” 

Competing in the cross-capital feat will create wear and tear on Andy’s limbs and prosthetics, and he will have to stop every couple of miles to clean and tend to his legs so that the skin doesn’t break and become more sore.

“The hardest thing will be the physical pain,” he admits, “but I’ll focus on the impact the money I raise will have, and what my finishing the marathon will say.

“I hope to raise £50,000 to share between the two charities. £10,000 will fund 220 mental health sessions for the foundation, £20,000 will fund 440.

“While people might not be able to relate to being injured in Afghanistan – some might not even have been born when it happened – they may be able to relate to what it takes to do the marathon and be inspired to run a 5K or 10K, or just get downstairs, whatever their challenge is.

“Afghanistan was the catalyst to my life and my story. The London Marathon is my next story, and my onward journey.”

To support Andy head to his fundraising page.

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