A SOUTHAMPTON Solent University graduate is taking part in one of the country’s toughest obstacle today in aid of his disabled friend.

Rhys Barker is taking part in this year’s Tough Mudder event for his college friend and former stuntman Jay Young, from Southampton, who was paralysed after he broke his neck at Legoland.

The 24-year-old and Jay have been the best of buddies since they started playing football together for AFC Totton and now Rhys wants to help Jay and his family out as much as possible.

He will be taking part in the gruelling assault course today at the Matterley Bowl near Winchester and aims to raise more than £500 for his friend.

“When the accident happened we were becoming good friends. It was my girlfriend’s birthday meal the night we heard about the accident. It was quite a hard moment.

“It was so weird. One day he was running around coming to the flat and eating all my food, the next he was in a wheelchair. It’s been hard for his family as well.

“Ever since that happened I just wanted to do something for him and his family. I was thinking of taking part in the Tough Mudder thing, just for fun, and after speaking to my dad he said I should do it for him,” said Rhys, who studied football studies at Southampton Solent University.

Now living back in his home town of Romford in Essex he hopes he can smash a target of £500, which will go to the Chris Yeates Spinal Cord Injury Trust before being handed over to Jay’s family.

The half marathon obstacle race is designed by the British Special Forces and tests all round stamina, strength and general grit.

Jay, 24, from Southampton, landed on his head after his partner slipped as they attempted a dangerous backflip routine.

He was left paralysed from the neck down and will never be able to walk.

The former Bitterne Park School pupil said he was “very grateful” to his friend for taking part in the race and hoped he would enjoy it.

“It sounds quite fun. I would like to try and do it, if I had somebody behind me helping me along.

“It’s nice of him to do it, he lives far away from me so it’s nice for him to travel all the way down and do this for me,” said Jay.

Log on to justgiving.co.uk/rhys-barker1 to donate.