Veteran who lost three limbs finishes fundraiser

BRITAIN’S first Afghanistan veteran triple amputee soldier Mark Ormrod yesterday finished a triathlon fundraiser with a 99.9-mile hand cycle.

The former Royal Marine – dubbed a “real hero” of the war by Prince Harry – powered his way nearly 100 miles from Ilfracombe in Devon to his home city of Plymouth.

Mark, 38, has already tackled a 5k run and a 1km swim to raise money for charity Reorg.

The charity helps military personnel,

I have to power this bike with my arms but I only really get full power from one arm MARK ORMROD

the emergency services and veterans discover Jiu Jitsu as a way of therapy.

Mark was left severely disabled after stepping on an IED. He lost his right arm and both his legs and now relies heavily on his prosthetic limbs to get around.

But that didn’t stop Mark completing an epic 99.9-mile bike ride and help Reorg, which he is a trustee of alongside actor Tom Hardy, hit a £500,000 target.

He set off from Ilfracombe on Thursday afternoon and arrived in Plymouth early yesterday after hand cycling 99.9 miles. He left Ilfracombe Lifeboat Station at about 4pm on Thursday with his coach Ben Wadham and a team of friends.

They cycled through the night to make it to the famous Smeaton’s Tower for around 8am.

Mark chose 99.9 miles in honour of emergency services and their 999 number.

He used an adapted hand bike powered with one arm.

Mark said: “I have to power this bike with my arms but I only really get full power from one arm.

“Ninety per cent of it comes from your elbow and I don’t have an elbow on this side.

“So I get a little bit of power from the shoulder, but the prosthetic is more for steering and keeping the bike on the straight and narrow.

“It’s effectively 100 miles on one arm.”

The next Reorg target will be £750,000.

SWNS Mark Ormrod is greeted on Plymouth Hoe by his wife Becky