January 2026

Our Co-Founder – Andy Reid MBE, Afghanistan veteran and triple amputee to take on the challenge of the 2026 TCS London Marathon !  

Back in 2022 he defied all the odds to become the first ever triple amputee to reach the summit of the mighty Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. This was an amazing challenge and incredible test of endurance and strength.

Andy  is now set to take on  a second epic challenge in the 2026 TCS London Marathon to raise funds for fellow veterans, soldiers, their families, and his local community.  He hopes to become the first ever triple amputee to complete the course.

Andy lost both his legs and an arm after stepping on an improvised explosive device whilst on patrol in Helmand Province in 2009. Now, the father of two is gearing up for the marathon on Sunday 26th April, to show what disabled and injured veterans can achieve.  

Andy will be participating in this year’s London Marathon to raise money for his own Standing Tall Foundation which provides mental health counselling, addiction, housing & welfare support to communities in his hometown and across the country, and the Army Benevolent Fund, which is the Army’s national charity. With the help of his supporter, Ged Mason, Executive Chairman of Morson Group, Andy is aiming to reach the finish line in 10/11 hours and hopes to raise thousands of pounds for the two causes closest to his heart.  

During his lengthy treatment and recovery in the UK after his injury, the former Corporal in 3rd Battalion  The Yorkshire Regiment was determined to defy the odds and to redefine himself as a survivor, not a victim. From the start, Andy received the support of the ABF – which helped to fund adaptions to make his home more accessible and pay for training to support his post-Army career.   

A published author and accomplished motivational speaker, in 2020, with his friend, John Tabern,  Andy established the Standing Tall Foundation, which promotes mental and physical wellbeing, supporting hundreds of people in the community each month, including ex-service personnel.  

Andy has gone on to raise thousands of pounds for the ABF and the Standing Tall Foundation, through a series of tough physical challenges – including climbing Mt Kilimanjaro, abseiling down Blackpool tower, and completing a 600-mile tricycle ride. Now Andy is embarking on a demanding training programme to ensure he is fit and ready to walk the 26.2-mile route along the capital’s streets .  

Andy Reid said: “I’m turning 50 this year, and I wanted a challenge! I hope that as  many people as possible can support me in raising funds and awareness for both charities – the Standing Tall Foundation and the Army Benevolent Fund.  

“The TCS London Marathon is something that I would have taken part in if  I’d not been injured. By  showing what can be achieved by someone like me, a triple amputee, with the right mindset and support network around you, I  want to help others to see what they can overcome.”   

Ged Mason said: “What I admire about Andy is that he really  pushes his limits and nothing holds him back. Just by doing what he’s doing, Andy helps motivate others who might be struggling. I am delighted to be supporting Andy to take part in the 2026  TCS  London Marathon; and looking forward to training with him, too.”  

Peter Monteith, Chief Operating Officer at the Army Benevolent Fund, added: “We are so grateful that our ambassador, Andy Reid MBE, is taking part in the TCS London Marathon in aid of the Army Benevolent Fund and the Standing Tall Foundation. Andy has experienced life-changing injuries but does not let them define him. He is dedicated to serving others – raising thousands for the ABF, establishing his own charity, and inspiring many people with his story of resilience and recovery. We wish  Andy the best of luck in his training and look forward to supporting him along the way.”  

Andy is an inspiration to us all, and a poignant reminder that with pure determination, resilience and mental strength, we can overcome adversity to achieve anything we set our minds to. This is such a testament to the Foundation, and amazing example of an ex-veteran who has suffered life changing injuries, but not let them defy him. 

To support Andy Reid’s Marathon fundraiser, please visit his page HERE.

We kick start the New Year with some fantastic news that SeaKing Group have joined the STF as a new partner. We had the pleasure of meeting with Gary Pink and his team at The SeaKing Group in Birkenhead back in December.

Like us, they are extremely proud to support Veterans and are also advocates of wellbeing in the workplace.

Founded in 2001, SeaKing has been evaluating and solving marine and industrial engineering problems for organisations worldwide. As an organisation grown from four employees 25 years ago to employing more than 120 engineers worldwide, now with a history delivering projects across Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Caribbean, and the USA.

The SeaKing Group offers specialist electrical engineering services to the marine, industrial, commercial, military, and offshore sectors. Recognised for their expertise in marine electrical work, the SeaKing Group undertakes all types of electrical projects from breakdowns to major refits on a range of vessels, globally.

They offer as their specialities the following:

Marine electrical system design, marine electrical system installs, marine electrical repair, control panel and software solutions, commercial electrical engineering, industrial electrical engineering, and super yachts.

Not only this, but they have also recently opened up an Industrial/Commercial division with them carrying retro-fit installations as well as new build installations in and around the local area and adjoining counties.

The SeaKing Group is based on the Wirral in Birkenhead, with satellite offices currently on the South Coast of England and in Glasgow. As part of the wider Envoy Group, they can now offer full turnkey packages for all your electrical requirements.

SeaKing had this to say about the partnership:

“From the first moment we met with both Andy and Charlie we, at SeaKing, were overwhelmed with what they and their foundation do, they are very inspirational people. We are immensely proud to now be called a Partner to the ‘Standing Tall Foundation’ and we are very much looking forward to building closer ties and seeing the positive impact that we believe we can make together in the support for the Serving & Veterans Community and their families.”

We warmly welcome them to the STF family and look forward to working together moving forward!

We are delighted to have partnered with PSD Group who have very kindly supported and provided us with an incredible Ford Ranger to use for Foundation purposes.

This will help us enormously with events, and transporting Veterans and other community groups to activities.

PSD is a vehicle solutions provider, supporting individuals and businesses of all sizes with vehicle rental, vehicle leasing, and used vehicle sales. They supply a wide range of cars, vans, and specialist commercial vehicles, backed by flexible packages that suit short term needs through to long term fleet requirements. Their services include maintenance, breakdown cover, fleet management and practical support throughout, with a team focused on keeping customers on the GO.

Our Co-Founder John Tabern (pictured above) also manages the heritage project Cannington Shaw, giving The No. 7 Bottle Shop in St Helens a new lease of life.  He has been leading the revamp of this fascinating listed building into a rich community hub. Their logo also features on the new vehicle.

Clint Harrison, Chairman of PSD had this to say:

I have long admired the incredible work the Standing Tall Foundation do within the local community and it is a privilege to be able to offer our support to such an important charity. Unless you speak to Andy Reid and John Tabern, you don’t understand how much time and effort is put in to running a charity organisation who offers such a wide variety of support, the dedication and the commitment from the STF team is unquestionable.

Massive thanks to Clint and his team at PSD, we are truly grateful.