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Corporal Marcus Selvey with Ralph Colman managers Ian Grant and Barry Vowles.

A TAUNTON soldier blown up in Afghanistan is gearing up for a sponsored bike ride for injured servicemen.

Corporal Marcus Selvey, 38, thought his Army career was over last year, when the armoured EWMIK Land Rover he was in came under attack in Helmend Province.

He broke his tibia, snapped all five metatarsals and the cuboid bone in his right foot.

Cpl Selvey from Milverton has been receiving treatment and physiotherapy at Headley Court, Surrey, a tri-service rehabilitation centre.

Marcus said: "The staff at Headley Court were amazing, without them I would not be walking."

"They got me on crouches, then one crouch, then on two walking sticks until I was up on my feet."

All of the money raised by the 300 participants on the Help for Heroes bike ride on May 26 will go towards Headley Court.

The charity needs to raise £6 million to build a swimming pool and gym complex at the rehabilitation centre.

Marcus out in Afghanistan

Marcus added: "My recovery has been hard and I have been in a lot of pain.

"At one point I thought I would have to be medically discharged from the Army.

"I thought my career was over.

"I was really anxious because I've been in a uniform since I was 14, when I was an Army cadet, this is all I know."

Marcus has his sights on activity duty next year when his regiment the Royal Logistic Corp based in Oxford tour Iraq.

He said: "I can't wait to go on operational tours again, to serve my country.

"If my squadron went out without me, I would be concerned, we are like a band of brothers."

He added: "I will be able to do 90% of what I used to do, which is all thanks to the staff at Headley Court."

7:02am Saturday 17th May 2008

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