Blind, but Craig won't be beaten

The Sun (UK)
Monday, October 29, 2007

 Blind, but Craig won't be beaten

Please help our brave heroes

By TOM NEWTON DUNN Defence Editor and JUSTINE SMITH 

BLIND Iraq hero Craig Lundberg has vowed to run the London Marathon to raise 
cash for crippled pals - just six months after losing his eyes in a Basra 
blast. 

Lance Corporal Craig, 22, wants to keep serving his country by dedicating 
himself to helping others. 

In his free time the Liverpool squaddie teaches blind children to play football 
and judo. 

Last night he pledged his support to The Sun's Help For Heroes campaign - and 
begged all Brits to give generously. 

The lion-hearted soldier said: "I'm one of the lucky ones - I came home. Yes, I 
lost my sight, but I won't let it stop me doing anything. 

"I'm not a hero. I was just doing the job I love and I got unlucky. It happens. 
The heroes are the lads that got me out, patched me up, saved my life. 

"Nobody should forget what those lads and thousands more are doing every day 
for their country. 

"When they come back injured, they deserve the best care and all the support we 
can give them. That's why Help For Heroes is such an important cause." 

Craig, from 2nd Battalion, Duke of Lancasters, was on his second tour in Basra 
in March when he was blasted in the chest with a rocket-propelled grenade that 
sent red-hot shrapnel into his flesh. 

As well as the damage to both eyes, Craig had flash burns on his face and chest 
and his left arm was broken in three places. He had also lost three teeth, and 
had a broken jaw, cheekbone and nose. Dad Steve, 41, said: "There was nothing I 
could recognise of him. His face was burned and swollen and he was wired up to 
machines. 

"But as soon as he could move he wanted to be walking around, doing things for 
himself. He's an amazing lad." 

Craig astonished doctors with his rapid physical recovery. While being treated 
in Birmingham's Selly Oak Hospital, he defied doctors' orders to attend the 
funerals of two close friends from his platoon, Kingsman Adam "Smudge" Smith, 
19, and Kingsman Alan "Jonesy" Jones, 20. 

Back in Liverpool, Craig met mentor Dave Kelly, 44, who was blinded 12 years 
ago by a rare condition and founded DaisyUK to break down barriers for disabled 
kids using sport and education. 

Now he helps out with classes twice a week. Craig explained: "It's all about 
mental attitude. I won't lie, being told you're blind is a killer. It's a tough 
one. 

"You can either sit at home and get depressed about what you've lost or get out 
there and find out what you can do. When Dave invited me to play football I 
thought he was having a laugh. 

"But like everything when you're blind, there is a way - put something that 
makes a noise in the ball. 

"I can do everything I could before, except drive a car - yet. I am determined 
I will see again. Scientists will be able to make me a bionic eye or 
something." 

Craig's platoon commander, WO2 Daz Hammond, said: "Craig is awesome. If you 
could extract his essence and bottle it you would be a very rich man. If we all 
had a bit of Craig in us, the world would be a better place." 

To make a donation or buy a wristband to help our heroes click HERE
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/article388570.ece

SOURCE


http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article404133.ece
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