Brave Lydia Cross who lost her
legs at age two due to meningitis got fascinated at Mark Ormrod when he was
seen coming back from Afghanistan a triple amputee after being blown up by bomb
during the war against the Talibans.
As a result she was moved to
render some kind of assistance to the Marine and other soldiers who became
amputated like him.
“He’s got ‘leggies’ just like
me,” she exclaimed out to her mum and, from that moment, she threw herself into
fundraising for injured veterans.
The teenager who turns 16 this Saturday
is campaigning to raise awareness of the disease – backed by the injured war
hero she helped almost 10 years ago.
Lydia said: “Mark was my hero
from the moment I met him. Even though I was just a little girl, I instantly
connected with him because he had lost his legs like me.
“I was aware from an early age
that our soldiers had sacrificed so much.
“Today I feel lucky in my life.
There have been difficult times growing up but my family, friends and humour
have seen me through the worst days.
“It’s important to me to help
families who have been affected by meningitis and to raise awareness.
“Now I am older I am proud to get
involved with campaigning and it is an honour to have Mark by my side to help.
He is an inspiration to so many and together we can show everyone that life
goes on even when you lose limbs.”
Lydia’s amputation came after a
GP misdiagnosed her condition to be a virus, which has caused her years of excruciating
pain and surgeries as she grows up.
But despite all this, the
incredible little girl battled through with remarkable courage and fortitude.
It was at the Headley Court
military hospital in Surrey that they had their first meeting in 2008.
Lydia said: “I remember seeing
Mark and other soldiers on the television after returning from war and it was
just an instinct to want to help.
“It was also a challenge for me
to show I could still do things even though I had lost my legs too.
“I started off by swimming a mile
and then I did a big run with Mark and some other Marines to raise funds and
awareness for military charities.
“The fundraising just snowballed
from there, doing cake sales and a mini wheelchair marathon, raising £78,000. I
was even privileged to launch the Poppy Appeal one year with Mark.”
She also went as far as lobbying
Princes William and Harry for help to make the lives of our injured soldiers
more bearable.
Mark – who was hailed as Prince
Harry’s hero – told how the courage of a little girl with no legs helped pull
him through his darkest hours. The Commando stepped on a landmine on Christmas
Eve 2007 while on patrol in Helmand – losing his right arm and both legs above
the knee.
He narrated saying: “I was still
at Headley Court Rehabilitation Centre for the military when Lydia came to
visit.
“I had spent a long time in
hospital in despair but I was determined to reclaim my life despite being told
I would never walk again.
“There were moments in my early
days when I wanted to end it all – and then there was Lydia. An incredible
little girl with no legs just like me who was always smiling and doing things
to help other people.
“Her attitude was amazing and
changed my outlook. If this little girl could be so happy and helpful, then
what excuse did a tough Marine have not to rise to the challenge? She showed
me that you can dig deep and achieve whatever you want if you have the grit and
determination.
“Lydia did so much to help
veterans like me but it was her attitude that shone so brightly.
“A little girl taught me how to
help others and not be selfish. She really is a remarkable girl and I’m very
proud to call her and her family my friends.”Now it’s my turn to help her in
her campaign against meningitis .”
Lydia is an ambassador for the
Meningitis Research Foundation and desire to see more children immunised.
Figures show that last year an estimated 400 cases in under-fives could have
been prevented with greater recognition of the symptoms.
Lydia said: “It’s important to me
to help families affected by meningitis and to raise awareness and it is an
honour to have Mark by my side.
“He’s an inspiration and together
we can show everyone that life goes on even when you lose limbs.”
Lydia, from Braunton, Devon, won
the hearts of the nation and was named a Child of Courage at the Pride of
Britain Awards. She even received an honorary green beret from the Royal
Marines and is also the only child patron of Help for Heroes.
But she admits some of her
toughest challenges arose in her teens.
“I have always accepted that I am
different and became used to people staring but I became more self-conscious
when I hit 13,” she said. “I had experienced bullying at school by one nasty
girl who would call me names and push me and that used to upset me.
“I also knew I couldn’t wear
fashionable clothes my friends were buying because I was self-conscious about
covering my prosthetics but I was very lucky to have amazing friends. My mum
and dad gave me so much love and support and I had some counselling too which
made me realise that I might be different but I was okay just as I was.”
Sport-made Lydia, who uses
prosthetic running blades, recently returned from a school trip to Uganda after
raising £1,700 to pay for it by working in a chip shop.
She said: “I met so many people
in Africa who had been through really dreadful, tough lives and it taught me to
be grateful for the amazing life I have. I’ve had struggles but I’ve also got
so much to enjoy in my life too. Whatever you have to deal with in life you
should never waste a single day.”
Also, in addition of campaigning
for meningitis awareness, she plans to travel and teach English in Thailand
before going to university. Mark, 33, is planning to release his second book
about his life and a documentary to mark the 10th anniversary of the day he was
blown up later this year.
He has run across America on
prosthetic blades, skydived, wing-walked on a plane and cycled around the UK
for charitable causes.
“Like Lydia, I have known
incredible dark days but I made up my mind early on I was going to live a good
and happy life,” he said.
“The more you give back to
people, the richer your life becomes and I am blessed to have my wonderful wife
Becky and three gorgeous children.
“I am lucky in many ways and I
make the most of every day. I went from wanting to end it all to living life to
the full. And it’s a privilege to help Lydia . She will do incredible things.”
This amazing pair have much in
common physically and mentally but, most remarkably, they agree on one big
issue.
Given the chance to alter their
lives, they insist they wouldn’t change a thing.
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