Brave Tom champions the group that helped him

A WARRINGTON man who turned his life around after being shot and paralysed in Afghanistan will be championing the disability group which helped him battle back at a special event in the town.
As part of the #LoveWarrington celebrations, Tom Coleridge will be blowing the trumpet for Warrington Disability Partnership which will be among the showcase of community groups and organisations at the day-long event at Golden Square on Saturday February 14.
The 23-year-old’s determination to recover and find a new life for himself has taken him to the hearts of the people of Warrington making him the perfect candidate to champion his own cause at #LoveWarrington.
Marketing Cheshire, the official tourist board for Cheshire and Warrington, has joined forces with Golden Square, other businesses and community partners to promote the town as a visitor destination by shouting about all that is great about the town.
Residents and businesses are being asked to get behind the campaign by using the #LoveWarrington between now and the event.
There will also be a whole host of other activities for the family to enjoy including character visits, giveaways and performances from local talent.
Tom had his life torn apart at 18 when he was serving with the Duke Of Lancaster regiment in Afghanistan and his patrol was ambushed.
He said: “I was shot through the left side of my abdomen. It destroyed my right kidney, injured the other one, damaged my liver and hit my spine.
“It was like an earthquake erupted inside me. My mates patched me up and stopped the bleeding but I couldn’t move my arms or legs. Back at Camp Bastion they removed the one kidney, fixed the other and then my spleen ruptured so they took that out while they were at it.
“I was moved to Kandahar airbase where a top spinal surgeon operated but within 24 hours of being shot I was back in the UK at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.”
He has since endured years of treatments and therapies at army centres and specialist spinal units before being physically and mentally fit enough to return home to Chapelford where he lives with his parents and sister.
He said: “I suffered a lot with post-traumatic stress disorder and have always had treatment for that but I was not getting out and couldn’t get on with my life.”
The turning point came for Tom when his dad got in touch with an old friend, and former American football teammate, Dave Thompson.
“Dave broke his neck while playing in 1989 and after all these years he is still good friends with my dad and uncle. When Dave was in hospital, my family supported his family through it and he is now returning the favour. They got in touch with Dave who had set up Warrington Disability Partnership in 1991.”
Now an ambassador for the group, the former St Gregory’s High School pupil started off doing some volunteering and has gone on to be a strong voice in the organisation he has become passionate about.
He said: “It has changed my life and totally turned it around. Being able to help others gives me a reason to get out of bed in the morning.
“Dave has become a good friend and been brilliant, even taking me scuba diving and getting me involved in things. I am so grateful to WDP for everything they have done for me.”
Tom is now taking his opportunity to show that gratitude by being involved with #LoveWarrington where the partnership will be hosting an information and awareness stand in the Golden Square as well as selling donated Army merchandise to help fund Tom’s job with the group.