On 5th September 2010, Corporal Andy Garthwaite lost his right arm in a rocket-propelled grenade attack in Afghanistan. Ten years on, Andy is leading a campaign to support the Charity that supported him in his time of need.

Andy, from South Shields, joined the Queens Royal Lancers in 2002 at the age of 16. He undertook his training at the Army Foundation College, Harrogate. After serving in Iraq, aged 18, in 2010 he deployed to Afghanistan on Op HERRICK 12. Whilst on his penultimate patrol of the tour, he was searching a compound when his unit came under sustained and heavy enemy fire.

Andy raced to join the rest of his troop on the roof of the compound but no sooner had he reached them then a rocket propelled grenade took off his right arm. A close friend was killed in the same incident. Andy recalls "lying on the floor in a lot of pain with my hand on fire. My arm was away from my shoulder just lying there. I was still wearing my glasses and could see my friends body beside us. And I thought ouch that hurt', I think I've been hit". Andy is only alive today because his team radioed for a helicopter and within 10 minutes were carrying him to it across an open field despite continuous, enemy fire.

The day after being evacuated to Camp Bastion he was in a stable position and was flown to a hospital in Birmingham for further treatment. Ten years on, it has been a long road to recovery for Andy. He has become one of only a few people in the world to be fitted with a bionic arm powered by the brain.

ABF The Soldiers Charity gave Andy grants to assist with rehabilitation; funding for bathroom adaptations, steering adaptation for his car and an iPad. Andy was desperate to remain independent following his medical discharge from the Army in 2013 and top of his list was finding a new job. Andy is now married to Kailey, has a son and daughter, and is in employment working in property management in Newcastle.

This year, Andy will mark this fateful anniversary by leading Challenge 31 - encouraging as many people as possible to take part in one activity per day for the month of October. You can run, walk, cycle, swim, zumba - anything you want.

All you have to do is register for the event and pay a £20.00 donation through the Challenge's Just Giving page! You may also choose to fundraise through your own just giving page, linked to the event. If your resolve falters through the month, there is a voluntary penalty donation of £10.00 if you miss an activity!

This is Andy's way of giving something back, to help other soldiers, veterans and families in genuine need. All money raised will go directly to ABF The Soldiers' Charity - the national charity of the British Army. All participants will receive a personalised Certificate of Achievement on completion.