HE is setting off on the challenge of a lifetime.

Royal Navy veteran Richard Hunt will begin a 2,300-mile kayak around the UK to raise £50,000 for the charity that helped him cope with the trauma of losing his left leg.

As reported by the Daily Echo, Richard, 43, of Portchester, suffered a serious sporting injury at the age of 18.

Daily Echo:

Richard in his kayak

The married father-of-two subsequently underwent 21 operations on his leg but surgeons were eventually forced to amputate, ending his navy career.

He said: ''I have not been scared at all, I have just been excited to get going.

''I know it's going to be difficult, I know it's going to be painful and at times it's going to be dangerous, but I am not scared. I feel I am fully prepared.''

He continued: ''My motivation for doing this challenge is that it's always important in life to have goals, it could be if you're disabled to get out and get yourself to the shops or maybe to the gym or something like my goal.

''I feel I need this kind of thing to keep me occupied, there's a lot of enjoyment and to do it for Blesma is brilliant because they have helped me so much.

''I would like everybody to know who Blesma are and what they do, they have been around for 100 years and they do amazing work.''

Mr Hunt is to begin his challenge tomorrow at 5am from Gosport and he anticipates it will take 100 days of paddling plus rest days.

Daily Echo:

Richard was last based with the Royal Navy in Portsmouth

Following 13 months of training, he hopes to travel a distance of approximately 2,300 miles using a sit-on-top kayak, which would break the current record for the longest solo kayak journey held by Helen Skelton on the Amazon river for Comic Relief.

To sponsor The Great Paddle Round, visit justgiving.com/richieoneleg.