Afghanistan veteran and triple amputee, Andy Reid MBE, has made history as the first triple amputee to complete the 26.2-mile course of the iconic event on Sunday 26th April.
Whilst on patrol in Helmand Province in 2009 with the Yorkshire Regiment, Andy lost both his legs and an arm after stepping on an improvised explosive device. Despite sustaining lifechanging injuries, Andy was determined to redefine himself as a survivor, not a victim.
He has dedicated himself to raising thousands of pounds for the Army Benevolent Fund, which funded adaptions to make his home more accessible and pay for training to support his post-Army career. Andy then went on to on to found his own charity, the Standing Tall Foundation, together with his friend, John Tabern.
To give back for the support he received, and to raise vital funds and awareness for his foundation, Andy took on the London Marathon in aid of the Army Benevolent Fund and the Standing Tall Foundation.
Lining up alongside 59,000 other participants, including a team of 80 running in aid of the ABF, Andy was one of the last to receive his medal on Sunday. Supported by his friend, Ged Mason OBE, it took Andy a time of 12 hours, 34 minutes and 54 seconds, and around 80,000 steps to reach the finish line. En route, Andy paused and paid his respects at the Iraq and Afghanistan memorial in Victoria Gardens, to commemorate those who served in both countries, including those comrades he lost.
Celebrating his achievement, Andy Reid said:
“I’m exhausted but delighted to have made it to the end of the Marathon. It’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, and it was massive physical and mental challenge but with the support of the crowds, and my friends and family, I kept going.
“I want to thank everyone who supported me – every donation and message of support makes a real difference. This Marathon was not just about raising funds, but also about inspiring other people to see what they can achieve with the right help and mindset. I hope that as many people as possible around the country can support me in raising funds and awareness for these two fantastic charities.”
Andy had already entered the record books in 2022 as the first ever triple amputee to reach the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. He’s delighted to have made history again by completing the TCS London Marathon.
Peter Monteith, Chief Operating Officer at the Army Benevolent Fund, said:
“Congratulations to our ambassador, Andy Reid MBE, for finishing the TCS London Marathon in aid of the Army Benevolent Fund and the Standing Tall Foundation. This iconic event is tough for anyone to complete but for someone with Andy’s injuries, finishing it is an incredible and unique achievement. Andy continues to dedicate himself to supporting others – raising thousands for the ABF, establishing his own charity, and inspiring many people with his story of resilience and recovery. Thank you on behalf of the charity to Andy and to all our Marathon runners for their support.”
There is still time to support Andy’s achievement by donating to his cause: https://events.armybenevolentfund.org/fundraisers/andyreidmbe/londonmarathon2026