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by Jess Banham
A soldier who had both legs blown off in an Afghan tank blast
was one of nine servicemen taking part in a golf tournament.
Twenty four teams were registered for the event, held at Chart
Hills Golf Course in Biddenden yesterday.
Lance Corporal Corey Mapp was one of nine wounded soldiers
taking part. The brave 32-year-old had both his legs amputated
after his tank was blown up near Musa Qaleh in Helmand in 2010.
He has been helped with his rehabilitation by Battle Back, a
military organisation that encourages wounded soldiers to play
sport and keep active.
L/Cpl Mapp, of the Household Cavalry, based at Windsor, said:
"Most soliders are quite fit, robust people. As a double amputee,
there's no mercy, they encourage you to get back into things and be
as robust and as normal a person as you can be: A fit mind is a fit
body."
Joining him around the course was Colonel David
Richmond (pictured left, on duty) who was commanding the
Canterbury-based 5 Scots when he was shot in the leg during a
battle in Helmand Province in 2008.
He said: "It gives you something to look forward to, something
to focus on, something a bit competitive.
"We're all soldiers and we've led an active life and it gets you
back to doing that - focusing on what you can do and moving
away from what you can't do."
It is the fourth time the tournament has been held at the course
to raise funds for Help for Heroes.
This year the event was organised by Steve Craddock, the Medway
and Maidstone Coordinator for the charity and culminated in a
three-course meal and charity auction.
Mr Craddock said: "We have raised £30,000 in the last three
years and are hoping to raise at least £10,000 this year.
"That these lads survived is a miracle in itself, the fact that
they are now able to participate in so many challenges is not only
proof to their courage and determination, but a testament to the
brilliant work and dedication of the medical teams in the war zone,
the surgeons at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Selly Oak and the
expertise and dedication of the staff at Headley Court who are
charged with the rehabilitation of these young men and
women."