Lance Corporal Mark Harding served with 1st Battalion Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment for 16 years, mostly as a sniper with the Reconnaissance platoon. His service included operations in Bosnia, Kosovo, Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan.

In 2010, his 16th year of service in the British Army, Mark was deployed on operations to the Nadi- Ali district of Afghanistan. The area was a well-known trouble spot that was notorious for heavy sniper fire. On 28 May 2010, Mark was leading a four-man patrol sent from the platoon base to investigate an Improvised Explosive Device at 41 West Quadrant. Whilst out there, his platoon came under insurgent fire, and he was shot by a Taliban sniper. “I looked down and saw that the left-hand side of my body armour was covered in blood, and then I blacked out”.

Upon evacuation to Camp Bastion Helmand Province, it was discovered that the sniper bullet had passed through his neck, leaving him with severe injuries to the spinal cord and paralysed from the neck down. He returned to Selly Oak Hospital, Birmingham and was placed in an induced coma for six days and it took another four weeks to stabilise him from the extreme pain that he was in. To assist with his recovery Mark was then moved to a specialist spinal unit at James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough for seven months and it was at this point that he was told by consultants and doctors that he may never walk again. Mark realised the extent of his injuries and was completely devastated but was determined to learn to walk again. Listen to find out more...

So, what now for Mark…

The Project Belief Foundation has been set up by Mark with him at the helm, raising funds for Walking With The Wounded and ABF The Soldiers Charity, where Mark has managed to get two national army charities working together for the very first time. The foundation is also raising funds for Cash for Kids and struggling families in the North West and North East of England.

September sees Mark and 2 other members of the team taking part in a charity skydive in Flookburgh. This is followed by the Walk of Remembrance; walking from Jarrow to The Cenotaph in memory of all fallen colleagues, veterans and current personnel.

To finish the year off, the Foundation will be carrying out an endurance walk over 3 days in December, covering parts of the North West and raising funds for their chosen charities as well as creating some amazing hampers of food and toys for families in need.

The Foundation is also looking for businesses both local and national to get on board and help with sponsorship for their upcoming events. If you would like to get involved and support this charity and the man behind it, please get in touch.

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