At the age of 22, Gareth Evans, from Cannock, was evacuated back to the UK after an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded under his vehicle in Afghanistan in 2009, causing him a broken leg and shrapnel injuries.
SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity supported him on his return, and 14 years later he is running the London Marathon for the charity to say thank you.
Running his first ever marathon, 36-year-old Gareth is currently serving with the newly formed Ranger Regiment, based at Aldershot.
Gareth said: “Being military, I’ve always known about SSAFA and when I was injured, it was there for me.”
Deployed with The Rifles, Gareth was at the end of his first tour in Afghanistan, commanding a Mastiff patrol vehicle, when it was blown up by the IED.
Gareth’s wife, Emily said:
“Gareth and I grew up in the same town and had the same friendship groups in our early twenties although we weren’t a couple at the time. I remember hearing that he got hurt in Afghanistan. It was a real shock and made the danger to our soldiers very real to me.”
The injury has left Gareth with some physical issues but it didn’t stop him: After recovering from his injury, Gareth returned to Afghanistan twice, in 2013 and again briefly in 2019. He courted and married Emily, had two daughters and now he is running 26 miles in April for SSAFA.
Gareth said:
“I get really frustrated when I get injured or have set backs so I am trying to structure my fitness by sticking to a progressive training programme. I’ll finish even if I have to walk!”
Gareth had to have metalwork to restructure his ankle after the blast, and, although he has to be careful with his training, he is confident he will get around the marathon course.
Emily said:
“We are so proud of him. All the family will be there in London to cheer him on. It’s such an achievement; we are very lucky to have him.”
If you would like to support Gareth with his fundraising visit: https://2023tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/gareth-evans-a4fdf-250ac
