A MILITARY charity has paid for the family of an injured serviceman to travel to support him in this year's Invictus Games.

The Invictus Games started in 2014 for injured or sick members of the armed forces, with the first games being held in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London.

This year's Games are being held in Orlando, Florida, and the Royal British Legion is helping families of competitors to travel to the US for the event, including the family of Rob Cromey-Hawke, 32, an injured soldier of Cowling, near Keighley.

The Royal British Legion is supporting the friends and family of the UK Invictus Games Team, such as Mr Cromey-Hawke's wife, Karen, as part of its work to recognise the valuable contribution that family and friends make to the recovery of wounded, or injured service personnel and veterans.

Mrs Cromey-Hawke, 40, will be travelling to Orlando to cheer on her husband with her two sons Charlie, 14, and Connor, 17, and their three-month-old daughter Pippa, thanks to the Legion.

She said her husband will be flying out with the rest of the squad on Wednesday, May 4, before she flies out with the children on Friday, May 6, with the Games running from May 8-12 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney World.

"The British Legion has been absolutely amazing," she said.

"They are paying for two members of each family to go to the Games, but since I have two sons and a baby I would have had to pay for the boys, but they have paid for it all.

"The Games have been a massive help for Rob, he took part in 2014 and we didn't really know what it was about, but the whole weekend and atmosphere were amazing and people really got behind him which was a huge boost for Rob.

"Seeing him win his medals was the pinnacle for me, it was quite overwhelming."

Mr Cromey-Hawke was injured when he was serving in Afghanistan in 2012 sustaining brain, back and spinal injuries and hearing loss.

He got involved with Team True Spirit which helped to boost his confidence and self-esteem, before getting involved with the Invictus Games.

He will be the UK's vice-captain at this year's games, and will compete in cycling, swimming, sitting volleyball and wheelchair racing.

Mrs Cromey-Hawke recalled one of her favourite memories from the 2014 Games, when her husband won the cycling event.

"Rob was one of three guys that came over the finish line holding hands, and when they had stopped he got told off by Prince Harry - president of the Invictus Games - because he said they did not enough gold medals to go around, and they both had a good laugh about that."

The Legion's director general, Chris Simpkins, said the charity was proud to support the UK at the Games by taking friends and family to support them.

He said: "The Legion is coordinating travel, accommodation and tickets for family and friends attending the games in Florida to ensure that every participant can enjoy the support of their loved ones."