Matthew Stone
Matthew's Challenge 31
Fundraising for Army Benevolent Fund
Story
This year I am taking part in 'Challenge 31' for ABF The Soldiers Charity, who provide vital support to soldiers, veterans and their families in times of need.For Soldiers. For Life.
Challenge 31
I will be taking part in one activity per day for the month of October 2020 Run, walk, cycle, swim, zumba – above all, anything!, as long as I do an activity each and every day!
I’m proud to be a friend of Andrew Garthwait who is the founder of challenge 31. Iv seen the help and support he has had over the years from ABF on social media and in person. It is remarkable where he is at 10 years on from his incident in Afghanistan.
Without the support of the public’s donations the help just simply won’t be there. So please help and donate what you can for a good cause.
Please read Andy’s Story
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.
Thanks for reading and please donate as little or as much as you can. Let’s do our bit to help!
