The Three Peaks Challenge tests the endurance of the fittest of people, but to embark on it having suffered a massive stroke requires a huge commitment.

Mark Bowra, a Special Forces veteran from Poole had to abandon his first attempt last year because of the Covid pandemic.

He had been due to scale the mountains as part of a 1,000-mile odyssey – the Bowra 1000 – cycling, swimming and canoeing from John O’Groats to Land’s End in 2020.

Groups of veterans and people living with neurological disorders were to join Invictus Games gold medallist Mark but COVID-19 restrictions put paid to the plans.

Undeterred by the global pandemic, Mark, 47, completed the epic remotely in his home gym and on selected routes before finally crossing the line at Land’s End but was forced to postpone the Three Peaks.

Now he is launching his attempt to complete ‘unfinished business’ over three days this weekend 21-23 May.

Mark had a distinguished career in the Royal Marines and the Special Boat Service (SBS).

He achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and was awarded the MBE. He will be joined on his adaptive Three Peaks Challenge by a hand-picked team of veterans and civilians living with a range of disabilities.

He is aiming to raise £10,000 to fund innovative ‘Bowra Bags’ and deliver challenge events through his own Bowra Foundation to help other people with living with neurological disorders and the armed forces community.

Mark, who is married to Iona, said: “Recovering from a stroke is probably the hardest thing I have ever had to do but my experience in the military has helped me so much.

“The Three Peaks is unfinished business for me and I want to complete the challenge to demonstrate that with courage, determination and cheerfulness in the face of adversity anything is possible.”

Mark suffered a massive stroke in 2014 when he was at the pinnacle of his career.

He had tested himself in some of the most arduous environments. All that changed in a matter of minutes when he suffered a near-fatal stroke which left him hospitalised for over a year and told he would never walk again.

Mark’s experience of rehabilitation from stroke has inspired him to bring people with him on his journey.

He launched the Bowra Foundation in 2019 to inspire resilience and an unrelenting pursuit of recovery.

The foundation provides practical help and arranges physical challenges for people living with neurological disorders and the armed forces community.

Mark has handpicked a team of beneficiaries and veterans who have a range of disabilities to complete the challenge over three days, along with representatives of principal event sponsor Lester Brunt Wealth Management.

Fellow veterans’ charity Future Terrain has stepped up to provide all vehicle support for the expedition.

The training has been gruelling to ensure that the team can summit, Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa), Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis whilst having fun and embody the charity’s motto: ‘What’s inside matters’.

For more details visit http://bowra-foundation.org/3-peaks.html and www.virginmoneygiving.com/fund/Bowra3Peaks to sponsor Mark and the team.