My name is Mark Harding and in 2010 I was shot through the neck while serving our country in Afghanistan. My C5 and C6 spinal segments were completely shattered, paralysing me from the neck down. The doctors told me I would never walk again.

But, against all the odds, I slowly started to regain some movement.

Now, thirteen years on, I’m walking across the entire length of the UK in a single journey, starting at John O’Groats and finishing at Land’s End – almost 1000 miles apart – in support of Scotty’s Little Soldiers , the charity for bereaved military children.

Due to nerve damage from being shot through the neck, I can’t have children of my own. This is my way of helping other veterans’ children. Even if their mummy or daddy is no longer with us, they should still be able to smile.

I walk with crutches and am expecting the journey to take between three and four months, which is the longest challenge I’ve ever taken on. It will also coincide with the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III, which I’m honouring by carrying a flag of The King for the duration of this huge challenge.

Scotty’s Little Soldiers is a charity dedicated to supporting children and young people who have experienced the death of a parent who served in the British Armed Forces. Services offered to Scotty’s members include access to child bereavement support, guidance to parents and carers, personal education and learning assistance (including grants), and fun activities such as holiday respite breaks and group events. These are all designed to remind the children and young people supported by Scotty’s that they are not alone.

My dream would be to raise £100,000,000 for Scotty's, for such a small charity the ripple affects that this would have with the children and parents supported by Scottys would be incredible. However I have come to the hard realisation that due to the current economical climate and the struggles we are all facing with money I need to lower my hopes.

The new target set, I believe will still have a profound affect on the Scotty's children's lives. I will endeavour to spread the word of Scotty's where ever I go and with what ever I do, please help by sharing and spreading the word too.

Mark