IEUAN Coombes loves a challenge - and the one he takes on in September is his most testing yet.

The 20-year-ofd. from Caerleon. has grown up with cerebral palsy and undergone more than 20 operations, but has not let that stop him going to university to study sports development.

He has thrown the shot putt and discus for Wales, earned a Gwent Association of Voluntary Organisations (GAVO) award for coaching, assisting and encouraging children and young people with disabilities in Monmouthshire, and is taking on training for wheel-chair rugby.

But for the coming weeks his focus is on getting into shape for a London-Paris bike ride, to raise money for and awareness of the Argus-backed Sparkle Appeal for the Serennu Children's Centre at High Cross, Newport.

A youth ambassador for the appeal, who spends a lot of his time talking to young people who attend Serennu, Mr Coombes also set up its young people's forum.

He will cycle 300 miles in three days, September 25-27 - accompanied by appeal chairman Richard Hinton - and the Cardiff Metropolitan University student admits he will be "out of my comfort zone."

He will ride a specially made handbike, provided through the support of Wilkinsons, and which will come back to the Serennu Centre afterwards so it may be used by the children who use the centre.

"I started gym training about a month ago. It is about building up strength rather than worrying too much about the distance.

"It is one of the most difficult sports I have done.

Training itself isn't so much of a problem as recovery, because I'm wiped out for a couple of days.

"I think I'll have the endurance and cardio-vascular fitness, but co-ordination and balance is the big challenge. It is a handbike and I'll have to do it through the arms.

I'm not sure I'll be completely right, but 1 will be as close as I can be. My determination will get me to Paris."

Mr Coombes and Mr Hinton will be backed by a support team from 02E (Ordinary 2 Extraordinary), another charity through which £40,000 has been raised for the Sparkle Appeal in the past year.

02E, a Sparkle Appeal backer, helps serious and terminally ill children, and children in need, by encouraging people to get out of their comfort zones and take on a fundraising challenge.

Pair prepared to sparkle for appeal Mr Hinton said the charities' link is one of the mutual support, and hopes the ride will raise awareness of O2E while raising money for the Sparkle Appeal.

This centre and what goes on here inspires you. leuan is an Inspiration as well, and I wanted to do something a bit different," he said.

"We talked about doing a chairman and youth ambassador's challenge, and the bike ride fits in with leuan's capabilities. It's out of my comfort zone as well."

Anyone wishing to learn more about the bike ride can e-mail Mr Coombes or Mr Hinton at leuan.coombes@hotmail.com or rlchardhinton@hotmail.co.uk Donations can be made through www.Just-givlng.com/ieuan-coombes