A WAR veteran went under the needle to receive his first tattoo using an ancient bamboo technique for charity.

Mark Ford, from York, decided over a pint of beer with his friend and tattoo artist Martin Lowther to get himself inked. The pair served together in the third Regiment Royal Horse Artillery and wanted to thank Help for Heroes for their support.

Mr Ford said: “We agreed that, as Help for Heroes is close to both our hearts, we would use it to raise funds at the same time.”

Now a prison officer, he decided to get a symbol representing the charity on his back and added dates of his charity cycle rides from Land’s End to John O’Groats .

The 58-year-old said: “The stretcher bearer is a poignant symbol, representing the support that is there for our wounded after medical discharge, and it has always stuck with me ever since I first saw it.

“Martin is really good at his job. I trusted him with my life when we served together so I am sure I can trust him with a needle.”

Mr Lowther carried out the technique using a bamboo method traditionally used by monks to create mantras and prayers of protection in their designs.

He runs Rosie’s Ink Pot tattoo studio in Thornley, East Durham, with his partner Rachel who is also a tattoo artist.

Mr Lowther was medically discharged from the forces after developing a muscle weakening disease.

The neuro muscular disease seriously affected all his muscles including those in his eyes and tongue, leaving him weak, with double vision, and slurred speech.

He contacted Help for Heroes following the death of his 33-year-old brother to leukaemia in 2010.

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After the loss, Mr Lowther started to suffer from PTSD symptoms and began using cannabis and alcohol.

He said: “I wasn’t in a good place and contacted Help for Heroes.

“As part of their support they advised me to seek help from a local group which I did.

“After around two years of cognitive behavioural therapy, combined with practicing mindfulness, and knowing Help for Heroes was there for me every step of the way, really helped me to recover.”

Mr Lowther from Wallsend, in North Tyneside, learnt the art of bamboo tattooing on a trip to Thailand in 2004.

He gave disks containing hundreds of tattoo designs to a former Buddhist monk who had lost everything in the Tsunami. In return, the artist offered to teach him the art of bamboo tattooing.

The technique involves a fine needle attached to the end of a thin piece of bamboo, the needle is dipped into the ink and gently tapped into the skin.

He said: “There aren’t many places that offer it in the North-East.

“Those who have tried it rarely go back to the machine method. It’s less painful and causes less trauma to the skin, therefore it heals more quickly – for some it’s a spiritual experience.”

Help for Heroes helped Mr Lowther set up his tattoo studio. He attended a Help for Heroes business experience course, run in partnership with X Forces, and received a grant from the charity.

To support Help for Heroes sponsor Mark at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/mark-ford21