Colin Charvis, former Wales Rugby captain and British and Irish Lions veteran, has joined military and police personnel to launch a Help for Heroes event in Epsom.

The former back row stalwart joined fundraisers at the rehabilitation centre for injured service personnel, Headley Court in Epsom.

The centre is providing fitness training to the men in the weeks before they embark on a mammoth fund-raising challenge, Heroes Challenge UK.

The event will feature a 12-man team of serving and ex-military and police personnel from Wales embarking on a ten-day, 1,283-mile journey across the UK. 

Beginning on May 22, the team will cycle out from John O’Groats to Lands’ End, scaling the highest peaks in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales on their way down the UK and rowing across the Irish Sea twice. 

The challenge, which will unite armed service personnel from the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, is due to reach its finale in a mass skydive into Swansea on May 31, by which time the team hope to have raised more than £100,000 for the charity, which helps injured service personnel. 

G4S has provided £20,000 in support, and presented Chavis with a cheque for £10,000 on March 8.

Charvis said: “I would like to thank G4S for the support they have provided for Heroes Challenge UK. Without this donation the team would not be able to attempt this incredible challenge, which will be a mammoth test of physical and mental toughness. The team will average more than 100 miles per day and their journey will be that little bit easier with the G4S guys in support.”