WHEN Adam Clark was forced to quit the Royal Marines through injury after serving for half of his life, he had no idea what to do next.

But after picking up silver and bronze medals in cycling at the Invictus Games, it has given him a real energy boost.

Now the 33-year-old, from Finstock, West Oxfordshire, will help raise money and awareness of military charity Help for Heroes by touring the country to compete in cycling races.

Mr Clark said: “I joined the Marines because I was the sort of person not to settle for second best.

“I’ve got a competitive nature and if this allows me to channel that while at the same time raise support for people in a worse-off position than me, then it’s definitely worth it.

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“Leaving the Marines was a massive life change for me, made harder because I was told I couldn’t do it anymore.

“This has given me a massive boost and proven to myself I can succeed and compete at a high level.”

Mr Clark joined the Army aged 16 and transferred to the Royal Marines in 2005.

He was a member of 42 Commando, 539 Assault Squadron and the Commando Logistic Regiment, becoming a Lance Corporal.

But he was discharged in May last year after tearing cartilage and grinding joints in his left hip following years of carrying heavy anti-tank machine guns.

Mr Clark turned to cycling for fitness because it has less impact on his body and joined Mickey Cranks Cycling Club in Witney.

Last month’s Invictus Games, an international sporting event for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women, was his first competition. He won a silver medal in the men’s time trial on a road bike for the IRB3 open category, finishing in two minutes and 11 seconds.

Mr Clark, who represented the British Armed Forces, followed it up with a bronze medal in the same category and vehicle of the men’s 14-lap circuit race, finishing in 35 minutes and 55 seconds.

Both races, watched by thousands of people, were held at the Lee Valley VeloPark, where the London Olympics indoor cycling events took place in 2012.

Mr Clark, now a health and safety adviser in Stanton Harcourt, said: “I thought I might do okay but it was my first race so I had no idea how well I would do.

“I was in a little bubble and at the time didn’t even realise anyone was around the track.

“In the last race my hips popped out on the last lap and I almost had to stop. It was only at that point that I actually heard what was happening with people shouting and screaming around the track.’’ Mr Clark has now joined the Help for Heroes Team Battle Back cycling programme for next season. He will tour the country racing 10 and 25-mile routes competitively, and needs to raise £10,000 for a special time trial bike and expenses so he can go on to raise more cash and awareness of the charity.

To donate, email adamyclark@gmail.com

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