A FORMER army captain from Cowling is preparing for his next energy-draining challenge.

Rob Cromey-Hawke has been selected to compete in the Enduroman Arch to Arc – dubbed the hardest triathlon in the world.

He and fellow Help for Heroes team members – who have suffered life-changing injuries or illness – will run 87 miles from Marble Arch to Dover, swim the English Channel and then cycle 181 miles to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

They had been training for nine months in the hope of winning selection for the challenge, which begins – tides permitting – on September 26.

Team members will be raising money for the charity that has been pivotal in their recovery.

Mr Cromey-Hawke said he was "over the moon" to be chosen.

"I'm delighted all the training has paid off," he added.

"I cannot wait to be part of what's going to be an amazing and hopefully life-changing challenge.

"For the type of people we are, no challenge is too great. We want to prove to the world that no matter what happens in life, we can all go on to achieve great things – and doing that with like-minded people pushes you forward to excel."

Mr Cromey-Hawke, 31, was injured during his second tour of Afghanistan with the Royal Engineers in 2012, when the vehicle in which he was travelling drove over an improvised explosive device.

He suffered a brain injury leading to a permanent loss of hearing, balance problems and dizziness, and damaged his back.

The keen triathlete was provided with a high-performance recumbent trike and racing wheelchair thanks to funding from Help for Heroes.

Since then, he has competed in many competitions.

He took part in the Invictus Games and, earlier this summer, captained a 40-strong British Armed Forces team – supported by Help for Heroes – which competed in the Warrior Games in Virginia, winning an array of medals in both.

Mr Cromey-Hawke is now working towards a new career as a motivational speaker and leadership development professional.

He added: "Participation in adaptive sport has had a profound and lasting effect on my outlook on life beyond injury, establishing my next career and continuing to partake in competitive sport where possible."

He was part of the team that received the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Helen Rollason Award last December for outstanding achievement in the face of adversity.

Visit helpforheroes.org.uk/ArchtoArc to support the Arch to Arc challenge team.