AN EPIC challenge lasting 72 hours and 260km around the county is to be taken on by three friends of a brain injury victim.

Jack Warner was diagnosed with a life threatening condition needing emergency surgery after he collapsed at the gym last October. After coming out of a coma he has needed 24 hour care and intensive rehabilitation - which is now in jeopardy unless more cash can be raised for treatment costs.

James Cavalier, 28, Sports Development Manager at Wycombe District Council, and his pals Gary King and Simon Webb, will be undertaking a 260km circuit of Bucks via road, rails and rivers, doing various physical challenges on the route.

James said: "The more money we get the longer the rehabilitation goes on. He's talking now but not walking. It's not going to get any better without this treatment."

Wycombe Wanderers players and Great Britain's hockey and dragon boat teams will be joining in on the way.

They aim to raise vital money for their friend as they stop off at some of the county's iconic sites such as Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre, Stoke Mandeville Stadium, Longridge activities centre in Marlow and Dorney Lake, the site of the Olympic rowing.

Jack, was James's football coach in his home village Sarratt, Hertfordshire, and paid his petrol money to enable him to travel to and from university for matches when he was a student.

The injury Jack suffered struck a particular chord with James after an experience in his own family.

He said: "Three years ago my dad fractured his skull falling off a ladder. He was in a bad way and there's lot of things that Jack's family are going through now that there are similarities with.

"We are doing this to raise awareness of brain injury and the affect it has on people."

The challenge will be taking place between October 31 and November 3.

http://www.jackwarner.org/