VETERAN, triple amputee, father, husband, ambassador, MBE, colonel.
All these words describe Andy Reid who walked away with another Pride of St Helens Award on Friday – this time for Courage.
Back at the inaugural awards in 2012, Andy won the Pride of St Helens Award and Courage Award, however 13 years after his life changing injuries, Andy was nominated for an award again by this town and coming full circle won the Pride of St Helens Courage Award.
Not only is he as inspiration, but he also doesn’t let his life as an amputee prevent him from helping others, having recently climbed Mount Kilimanjaro to raise money and awareness for The Standing Tall Foundation, his initiative to help anyone battling with their mental health.
Accepting his award, the dad-of-two, said: “It’s not courageous to climb mountains, it’s a bit selfish in some ways as I spent three weeks away from my family, but I did it to raise money and awareness for The Standing Tall Foundation.
“The Foundation provides free mental health support and counselling for anybody and what really is courageous is people getting in touch with me and ringing or phoning the foundation and saying listen I’m struggling. Life is tough.
“Those people reaching out for support, that takes strength.
“If you’ve got anxiety, depression, or bereavement problems, for you to put your hand up and say I’m struggling, I need some help, that takes strength.
“Me climbing mountains and putting one foot in front of the other every day it’s hard work but it’s the right thing to do.
“Every day, I just try to be the best version of myself, and by me doing that if people reach out to the foundation and get the help they need.
“Life is tough at the moment isn’t it, living through Covid and now the cost-of-living crisis. Life is tough and what really takes courage is people putting up their hands and saying I’m struggling and that’s why I did it.”
He later added: “It’s absolutely amazing. I’ve done different things around the UK and won national awards, but it’s very special to win an award in my hometown.
“I want to inspire people from my town; it’s a great town full of great people and that’s the most important thing.”
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