A PARAYLISED veteran who was shot in the neck by the Taliban and told he would never walk again is hiking through Essex before going to the Netherlands to mark Operation Market Garden.

Mark Harding is walking 656 miles to Arnhem in the Netherlands to mark 80 years since Operation Market Garden – which at the time in September 1944 was the largest airborne operation of the war.

Mark, 48, was shot the neck while serving in Afghanistan in 2010 by the Taliban, shattering two spinal segments and was told he would never walk ago.

Injury - Mark Harding's C5 and C6 spinal segments were completely shattered which led to him at first being paralysed from the neck downInjury - Mark Harding's C5 and C6 spinal segments were completely shattered which led to him at first being paralysed from the neck down (Image: Submitted)

Mark began to gain movement, undergoing military rehabilitation for three years, and still uses crutches for walking – and last year raised more than £36k as being understood as the first disabled man to walk the length of the UK.

Mark is now raising more for Scotty’s Little Soldiers which gives 1-2-1 counselling, annual presents, and educational programmes for children who of military personnel who died of any cause.

Footsteps - Mark Harding is also walking in the Denham H. Brotheridge, a courageous soldier, was struck by machine gun fire in the back of his neck. He succumbed to his wounds without ever regaining consciousness, dying in the early hours of June 6, 1944Footsteps - Mark Harding is also walking in the footsteps of Denham H. Brotheridge, a courageous soldier who was struck by machine gun fire in the back of his neck dying in the early hours of June 6, 1944 (Image: Submitted)

Mark will also be honouring his great grandfather John Wilson Sutherland, the leading seaman in the Royal Naval Reserve, who lost his life on HMT Pelton, which was torpedoed and sunk by a German U-boat S-28 near Great Yarmouth on December 24, 1940.

Pitstop - Mark Harding at the Wrabness Community ShopPitstop - Mark Harding at the Wrabness Community Shop (Image: Submitted)

Mark, of Carlisle, is staying in Harwich with an ex-Para friend who was based in Colchester, said: “I had a good recovery, I was very fortunate, because of the people there, I am just grateful for them.

“What I am trying to highlight with is walk, for my great grandfather who was 33 the same age when I was injured, is to think about all the children who were forgotten about 80 years.

“This is why Scotty’s, such a unique military charity, needs shouting out from the roof top.”

Flags - Mark Harding had speciality flags made including for the Border Regiment and Scotty'sFlags - Mark Harding had speciality flags made including for the Border Regiment and Scotty's (Image: Submitted)

Andy Sloan head of fundraising at Scotty’s said “Mark is an extraordinary individual who has served his country, who has experienced life changing circumstances, yet is still giving back to others and still thinking of the children of military personnel who have died.

“Scotty’s new data after Armed Forces Day, show there are over 2,100 military personnel children, and we currently support 710. People like Mark help us do what do.”

To donate visit https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/mark-bigmilesforforgottensmiles