Wigton-based war veteran Mark Harding recently completed a walk from the town to Carlisle, raising nearly £10,000 for fellow veterans and their families.

Discussing the walk, Mark said: “Walking with the Wounded are a part of the Soldiers Charity and I’m the national charity ambassador for them. I walked to Grasmere with 35lbs on my back. I’ve only got about 8% power in my right leg and 10% in my left, the average person usually has 90%, so it was a massive thing for me to do. I noticed the charity logo where there is a man walking in Antarctica with trekking poles and I thought it would be a good idea.

“I spoke to the charity’s CEO about getting the poles to carry Christmas hampers to people who are struggling in the area and he was kind enough to provide me with some. I’ve had a massive amount of support from businesses around Cumbria and in Carlisle like DB Fabrications, Graphics Design and Alex Mitton Refrigeration.“

When asked what the money raised will be used for, Mark continued: “We’ve raised just under £10,000 which will help soldiers who suffer from post-traumatic stress and their families. A lot of people don’t realise that the wives who are left behind are the backbone for when we go away for what we need to do. We can’t do operations with a clear mind without knowing that everything is fine at home. I’ve had counselling sessions to combat stress and during one meeting I discovered that one of my friends had hung himself. Mental health is such a massive thing and I want to help raise awareness, not just for those who are suffering but for their families.”

Mark will now spend a period relaxing before starting again in the new year. He said: “I’ve got a lot of plans in the works and I’ll start again in February. I now have a team of ex-veterans that have walked with me over Christmas and we’re planning on raising over £100,000 in 2022. If there are any businesses or gyms in the area who would like to join or assist, they can get in touch with me.”