By John Connell

Last updated at 11:30, Thursday, 30 August 2012

A soldier shot and paralysed in Afghanistan will scale one of England’s highest mountains to raise money for the charity that helped him walk again.

Mark Harding

Courageous Mark Harding, 36, of Wigton, who needs an electronic cuff and tags to stimulate movement in his limbs, plans to go up Skiddaw on September 5.

He hopes the challenge will raise £5,000 for the Army Benevolent Fund which supported his gruelling recovery.

Mark, who still has no feeling in his right leg, will battle through constant pain to make the arduous 3,054 ft ascent.

He was serving as a lance corporal the 1st Battalion Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment in May 2010 when a sniper’s bullet shattered the vertebrae in his neck, paralysing him for several months. Mark said: “It’s a case of me needing to do something.

“My job was a worthwhile job. You see the benefits of what you are doing and raising money for the ABF is going to help people like me or people who can’t walk at all.

“Seeing me do this may inspire them to think ‘If he can do it I can do it.’

“Plus I think, with being a soldier, it’s a case of just getting on with it.”

Mark had been helping to provide cover for another unit in Helmand when he came under fire.

When his friend was hit in the leg he tried to reach him but could not understand why his limbs were not responding to his commands.

It was only when of his comrades said ‘I think you have been shot’ that he looked down and saw that his body armour was covered in blood.

He was paralysed from the neck down and it was only after several months of rehabilitation that movement started to return to his legs. He received specialist treatment at the at the James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough before being moved to Headley Court military hospital for rehabilitation in Surrey.

When he climbs Skiddaw he will have the help of a support team made up of fellow soldiers, firemen employees from Wigton-based Innovia Films Ltd.

Mark has already raised £2,596 but there is still a chance to sponsor him at www.justgiving.com/Mark-Harding3

First published at 11:24, Thursday, 30 August 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk