Former Royal Marine turned Military Speaker Andy Grant was invited to Carr Hill High School to talk to students about the challenges he has faced in his life and how he has overcome those tests.
Andy was injured by an IED in Helmand Provence, Afghanistan, suffering 27 separate injuries. He woke up in a hospital bed in the UK two weeks later. At just 20, Andy spent the next 18 months in and out of the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre. Adjusting to life with injuries, it became clear that the wounds to his right leg were not healing as hoped. After an agonising decision, having talk to surgeons and family, Andy’s right leg was amputated. This was not the first difficult time he had been through in his life as Andy also lost his mother to Leukemia when he was 12 years old.
Andy visited the school to talk to Carr Hill pupils about turning a negative situation into a positive one. He shared his story with students and, as well as talking about the challenges he has faced, he spoke about recently competing in the Invictus Games coming away with two Gold Medals in 400m and 1,500m Men's Ambulant IT1.
Carr Hill students listened to Andy, saw photos from the different times in his life and had the opportunity to ask him questions at the end of the presentation.
Mrs Somers arranged for Andy to speak to the students. Mrs Somers said: “I think it was fantastic that the pupils were able to hear Andy’s incredible story first hand. His words and philosophy of life definitely had an impact on them and I hope it will inspire them to always try to have a positive approach to life and work to overcome any hurdles they may face in their futures. On behalf of the staff and students I would like to thank Andy for his time. It was very much appreciated.”
.jpg)
