LOCAL MAN COMPLETES 325 MILE CHALLENGE ACROSS NORTHERN FRANCE FOR HELP FOR HEROES On 1st June 2010, John Miller from Woodbridge completed a challenging 325 mile cycle ride across Northern France along with 300 other Help for Heroes fund raisers and raised a staggering £9,600.00 with the group total now at £902,000 so far! Please check out my charity web page at http://www.bmycharity.com/johnmiller Alongside John were people from all walks of life including several service personnel wounded in recent conflicts, they set out on 25th May from HMS Victory in Portsmouth to cycle 325 miles across France from Le Havre to Dunkirk. The 300 riders completed their challenge in Dunkirk, to coincide with the 70th Anniversary of the evacuation of British Troops where the riders will joined the memorial ceremony in Dunkirk, before being transported back to the beaches of Dover by the Royal Navy in landing craft, similar to those used 70 years ago. The challenging cycle-route traced some of the region’s most significant First World War and Second World War battle sites including Thiepval on the Somme. John decided to take part in the challenge after watching the BBC documentary “Wounded”, last September and signed up for the challenge in October. Last year’s bike ride went on to raise £800, 000 for initiatives that support British troops wounded in current conflicts. This year, H4H cyclists are aiming to raise £1 Million which will take the Charity’s fundraising to date over the £50m mark. The £50m raised to date has supported over 25 grants, from £4000 to Deptherapy for a rehabilitation diving scheme, to the £20million appeal to build a series of Personnel Recovery Centres across the UK. The charity policy of ‘money in, money out’ means that all of the money donated over the past two years is spent or allocated to a range of vitally important range of specific projects. The challenging route of the bike ride was a great physical challenge for both able bodied and disabled participants alike. From wounded soldiers to families cycling for friends, families or fellow Brits, there were many stories to be told on the way. It was an amazing, emotional journey culminating at Dunkirk, then a memorable arrival back on British shores, like those who went before them 70 years ago. Bryn Parry, H4H Co-Founder says, “Help for Heroes is all about ordinary people ‘doing their bit’ to help men and women wounded in the current conflicts. There are now over 3500 events organised by volunteers across the country, with people cake baking, running, climbing, parachuting, leg shaving, swimming, in fact anything legal, decent and honest to raise money for our wounded heroes.” “This is our signature event, which last year raised over £800,000. Now in its third year, the ride will involve 300 cyclists, including a team of Service personnel injured in the line of duty, riding 325 miles across Northern France to raise money. These funds will enable us to keep providing direct, practical support to our boys and girls, we need every penny to give them the very best they deserve.” |