CEREBRAL palsy sufferer Gary Clarke, from Chard, is preparing to take part in the World’s Strongest Man for Disabled competition in Iceland.

Gary, 34, has been invited to attend the competition in Reykjavik next month where he will come up against about ten other strongmen.

He is determined to make his friends and family back home feel proud.

“I’m not going there just to make up the numbers,” Gary told the News. “I’m going to go there and give it a really good go.”

He trains regularly at the Griffin Strongman Camp at North Perrott under the watchful eye of trainer Phil Diamond.

Phil said: “We are already very proud of Gary and what he has achieved. It’s fantastic what he is doing and shows that disability does not necessarily have to be a barrier.”

Gary added: “The biggest barriers disabled people face are the ones they themselves put in their way.”

He has always been interested in gym-related activities and for the past ten years has been powerlifting.

During the last year he has got into strongman events such as truck-pulling and lifting huge weights.

Gary is looking forward to going to Iceland for the competition and is looking for sponsorship from local companies or organisations.

Anyone interested in backing Gary can e-mail him at smokeygps@hotmail.com or phone 078720-11271, or phone Phil Diamond on 07775-980373.