Veteran triple amputee bids for marathon first

An Army veteran, who is bidding to become the first triple amputee to complete the London Marathon, has said he wants to show 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, 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 on Merseyside, said he would also be walking the route in honour of seven friends in his regiment who died.

"I'm still here despite my injury, so I've got to make the most of life," he said.

Reid was on patrol with the 3rd Battalion, the Yorkshire Regiment when he was injured.

He said he was taking on this 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".

Reid said he had started training on New Year's Day, adding: "I've put the hard work in."

He said he had previously climbed Kilimanjaro and knew "what kind of mental strength these things take when it gets a bit tough, where you've got to dig in".

Reid added: "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."

The veteran is hopeful 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 training.

His wife will be cheering him on alongside people from the Army Benevolent Fund, 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.

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