Mark Ormrod British Royal Marines Country: Great Britain

Biography of Mark Ormrod

Mark Ormrod, a British Royal Marine, had his world shattered when he stepped on a Taliban-planted landmine while patrolling in Afghanistan. The explosion resulted in the loss of both his legs and his right arm. However, the 26-year-old hero, nicknamed Rammers, refused to give up and began fighting to adapt to his new condition, reclaim his life, and start over. Mark even wrote a book called "Man Down" in which he shares his incredible story of survival and resilience against all odds.

Inspired by his own experience, Mark started to think about other servicemen who had been injured in combat. He plans to open a specialized rehabilitation retreat on the Spanish coast, where military personnel with serious injuries can undergo a recovery program. Additionally, Ormrod decided to establish the charity fund Villas4Veterans. This idea came to him last year while he was on his honeymoon in Dubai with his childhood sweetheart and now-wife, Becky, who reciprocated his love. While spending time at the beach, Mark noticed that other vacationers couldn't help but stare and tried to hide their discomfort when he took off his prosthetics near the pool. In an interview, Ormrod expressed that "recovery, relaxation, and entertainment are all crucial when it comes to rehabilitation difficulties. But when the consequences of your injuries are so severe, staying at a hotel, where there is usually a large crowd of people, turns into a real challenge. When I take off my prosthetics by the pool, people look, and some even point. Sometimes, little children get scared, and as a result, you feel even more awkward because you stand out so much. Some guys can't even sit on the beach or approach the pool unless that area is designed for disabled people like themselves. That's why it's essential for our guys to have their own place where they can relax peacefully and undergo, often very painful, recovery."

Despite doctors telling him that he would never walk again, Mark proved them wrong. Currently, he uses prosthetics that are linked to a computer via Bluetooth technology. Ormrod not only refuses to give up but has also decided to participate in a marathon aimed at supporting and inspiring all disabled war veterans. The marathon will follow the route of Forrest Gump, the character from Robert Zemeckis' 1994 film. The race will pass through 16 states, and participants will have to run 3,520 miles, equivalent to 5,664 kilometers. Considering that Mark will be running on prosthetics, a discount was given, and it was decided that he would run no more than one mile per day.