THE Aaron Lewis Foundation has helped an Army veteran stay on track by aiding his model railway hobby.
Mark Bascombe, 50, served with the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers 3rd Battalion from 1985 to 1991.
He had both his feet amputated and lost most of his fingers as a result of an illness contracted while working as a lorry driver overseas.
Three years ago, he started work on an outbuilding at his home in Swindon, Wilts, but then lost his three remaining fingers.
The outbuilding was jointly-funded by the Royal British Legion and Blesma, through whom Mark met ALF trustee Steve Fraser.
Mark said: “Once the building was up, I got the railway started with bits and pieces donated through friends, and so on. But I was struggling to make progress and used up the last of my savings to get it going.
“That’s when the Aaron Lewis Foundation stepped in to help, so I could get layout boards made and now I have point motors, which I use just by a push of the button.”
Mark said the model railway has helped him following his operations and issued a “massive” thank you to the ALF and its supporters.
He added: “Without the help of the ALF it would’ve been so difficult to continue this hobby.
“It has had a massive impact on me – 73 amputations starts to grind on the mind and doing a hobby has given me a focus other than health appointments.”