Inspired by the impact the Veterans’ Foundation has achieved over the past decade, former Royal Marine and Invictus Games athlete Mark Ormrod MBE has publicly pledged his support for the charity’s next decade, continuing his role as an ambassador.
The announcement comes as the Veterans’ Foundation celebrates a decade of impact, having awarded more than £38 million through 1,500 grants to organisations delivering frontline support across the Armed Forces community.
This funding has supported hundreds of charitable organisations providing mental health and PTSD support, housing assistance, rehabilitation, employment support and community-based services for veterans, serving personnel and their families.
A story of service, survival, and resilience
Mark served with 42 Commando and was deployed to Afghanistan in 2007. He was critically injured by an improvised explosive device and lost both legs and his right arm. Although doctors told him he would never walk again, just 14 weeks later he returned to parade on prosthetic limbs to receive his Operational Service Medal.
Following rehabilitation, he left his wheelchair behind in 2009 and continued serving in the Royal Marines for a further three years.
Since leaving the military, Mark has become one of the UK’s leading voices on resilience and recovery. He is an 11-time Invictus Games medallist, including four golds, and recipient of the Spirit of the Games award.
He has also completed extreme endurance challenges including ultra triathlons and open water swimming events, setting a world record in open water swimming using only one arm, and raising more than £600,000 for REORG in support of veterans and emergency service personnel.
Mark was awarded an MBE in 2020 for services to the Armed Forces community and named Pride of Britain Fundraiser of the Year in 2021.
Mark Ormrod MBE said:
“I do not say this lightly, but the Veterans’ Foundation’s work genuinely saves lives, and I am immensely proud to be their ambassador. When veterans leave service, they do not always leave the battles behind. The challenges around mental health, housing, isolation, and employment are very real.
“What matters most is ensuring they have the right support at the right time, and the Veterans’ Foundation exists to fund the organisations that are delivering exactly that on the ground.
“I am incredibly proud of what has been achieved over the last decade, and I am fully committed to everything that comes next.”
Jane Gurney, CEO of the Veterans’ Foundation, said:
“Mark’s commitment to the Armed Forces community is unwavering. He understands first-hand the challenges many veterans face after service, which is why his support for the Veterans’ Foundation means so much to us.
“As we celebrate ten years of grant giving and impact, we’re looking ahead to the next decade of investing in the those delivering vital support to serving personnel, veterans and their families. Mark’s continued commitment reflects the impact we’ve achieved together and our shared determination to ensure that support reaches those who need it most.”
