Paralysed Salisbury army veteran completes Hadrian’s Wall trail
Tom Green took on the challenge in a hand-crank mountain bike
An army veteran from Salisbury who was left paralysed following an accident in 2020 has completed the Hadrian’s Wall challenge.
Tom Green took on the challenge to raise money for veterans’ charity Combat Stress, raising £1,500 in the process.
Tom was left paralysed from the waist down in 2020, when he was attempting a 100-mile bike for the charity.
“Approximately 40 miles into the ride and a seven-and-a-half-ton lorry hit me from behind, leaving me a wheelchair user.”
The accident left Tom having to “relearn life”, but that has not held him back in taking on challenges on behalf of the charity and rebuilding his life as an athlete coach.
‘Anything is possible with the right team around you’
Tom has a couple of sayings that he carries through life now, one being ‘stay strong, stay positive’.
Another is that with the right team around you, anything is possible. And with his team, which included ex-colleagues and his brother and partner Tom has been able to conquer the Hadrian’s Wall trail.
He told us what inspired him to take it on.
“Coming up to the one year anniversary of my accident (in 2021), I recognised that that, it could quite easily go either way for me mentally.”
Tom has taken on a challenge each year following his accident, scaling Mount Snowdon last year, before choosing Hadrian’s Wall this year.
“This year was tough,” he said, “The weather was enemy number one. I think of the 10 1/2 hours it took to do the ride, it rained for about seven of those.
“But we got through it as a team,” Tom added.
To complete both his most recent challenges, Tom has used a hand-crank mountain bike, which has been adapted for his needs.
“It’s a fantastic bit of kit,” he says.
£120 a day to run 24 hour phone lines
Tom has raised almost £10,000 pounds through his various challenges for Combat Stress.
The charity works to support current serving and ex-military veterans who suffer with mental health of any kind.
“They run 24 hour headlines. They days out for guys and provide any sort of assistance as and when required,” Tom told Greatest Hits Radio.
And the money that he has raised will go towards running the much-needed phone lines that provide an opportunity for those who choose to, to reach out.
It cost’s £120 to run the phone line for 24 hours, meaning Tom’s efforts can keep the lines open for longer.