A 'SELFLESS' Army doctor is taking part in three huge challenges in a bid to raise money for Armed Forces charity Help for Heroes.

Ben Smith, who works at Frimley Park Hospital, is to take on the London Marathon in October, the Struggle Moors – an ultra-endurance cycling sportive in Yorkshire, covering 112 miles and more than 10,000ft of elevation – in July, and an ongoing, self-titled ‘457 Challenge’, which encompasses 457 completions of testing hill runs.

The 26-year-old is now based at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

He said: “Challenge 457 will see me completing one hill rep on testing hills in my local area for each fatality suffered by the UK armed forces in the Afghan conflict over the last 20 years – sadly, there were 457 of them. I want to complete that challenge by the time of the London Marathon on 2 October.

“I’m doing it to raise funds and increase awareness for Help for Heroes, which is an incredible charity. It is difficult to adequately summarise the qualities required to survive, recover, rehabilitate, and, eventually, restart following any injury sustained in service.

“This is not confined to the physical. Nor it is confined to those who serve, but the families of those who do also. I have the honour to serve those who serve and grew up following the incredible work Help for Heroes have done and continue to do.

“In the wake of recent conflicts there is a huge burden of both physical and psychological injury. I’m hoping people will donate to help me help others thrive despite this.”

The charity believes those who serve our country deserve support when they’re wounded.

Every day, men and women have to leave their career in the Armed Forces as a result of physical or psychological wounds. The Charity helps them, and their families, to recover and get on with their lives. It has already supported more than 26,500 people and won’t stop until every wounded veteran gets the support they deserve.

Dean Williams, the Charity’s Area Fundraising Manager, added: "Selfless people like Ben, who is testing his body to the full to raise valuable funds, are such a huge help to the Charity as we look to support those veterans on their road to recovery. Our thanks go out to Ben for taking on these three challenges and we hope the generous British public will support him in his endeavours.”