Chris Bolger

Cycling for Help for Heroes because . . .

"I'd been aware of the good work the charity Help for Heroes undertakes for a while and knew my brother Stephen, a Cpl in the Paras, gave regularly to the charity. In May 2009 Stephen, was killed while serving in Afghanistan with the Special Forces Support Group. In the immediate aftermath of his death I was searching for a suitable charity to direct donations to and instantly thought of Help for Heroes. I read of the work H4H carries out and understood that Steve would almost certainly have benefited directly from it, had he been less seriously injured. It was while looking through the H4H website that I found out about the BBBR and I signed myself up - almost as a knee-jerk reaction to wanting to do something positive.

I was pleased to be accepted onto the ride and feel it now gives me a challenge to focus on while serving as a fitting way to honour my brother - the anniversary of his death will be on the last day of our ride.

I've been overwhelmed by the support friends, family, colleagues and complete strangers have shown in generously donating towards the ride. It all means that I have now surpassed my initial fundraising target and I'm getting down to the difficult task of training.

The ride certainly won’t be an easy one for me as my previous distances have been no further than 25 miles, however I'm looking forward to the challenge!"

www.justgiving.com/chris-bolger

Rebecca Crawford

Cycling for Help for Heroes because . . .

"I have always been aware of the good work H4H do through news reports, tv programme etc and I thought I would look on the website to see if there was anything I could do to help raise money. I was thinking more along the lines of a half marathon so I could play a small part in helping this great charity. I was soon drawn to the Big Battlefield Bike Ride and after reading about last year’s ride I decided I would put my name down, secretly thinking that I would never be picked to join in. But I was. And I’m glad.

Sadly in July last year a friend’s husband , Dan Shepherd of the Royal Logistic Corps, was killed in Afghanistan . He was trying to disarm an IED when he died. When I think of all the lives he saved, not only other soldiers but also local people, it makes me feel proud to know that I am playing my part to help wounded Servicemen and women. While we can’t bring Dan back, together we can make it a little bit easier to heal the damage that war causes on our armed services.

So here I am, new bike, lycra shorts and a tub of Vaseline and I’m ready. I know it’s going to be hard physically and mentally but when you think about why we are all doing it then it really is nothing compared to what our heroes have already been through."

www.justgiving.com/Rebecca-CrawfordH4H2010

Thomas Pal

Cycling for Help for Heroes because . . .

"I’m a serving soldier at the moment and currently out on tour in Afghanistan. This is my second tour out here and by far the hardest. I’m a Brighton born lad, now married, and I’ve been in the Coldstream Guards since 1994. I’ve served all over the world but only over this last few years have I seen friends and soldiers seriously injured whilst on tour. So far, my company has had 4 killed in action and over 30 sent home due to major, life-changing injuries or to mental health problems that have come to the attention of the company staff. This will be the second ride with H4H and my motivation is the help that they give to our forces. Many in my regiment have been to Headley Court and all the help they get is indeed second to none. If I was injured I’d like to know I’m getting the best help possible. I will be returning to the UK at the end of April so my training has been minimal and mainly on a static bike, but the determination is nothing compared to the guys and girls that have been injured on the frontline."

www.bmycharity.com/thomaspalBBBR

Brian Payne

Cycling for Help for Heroes because . . .

"This will be my third H4H bike ride and I will also be taking part in the Bridge Too Far ride in September. When I’m not fundraising for H4H, I’m a Barrister working for the Crown Prosecution Service. I spent 12 years as an officer in the Royal Artillery and served in Northern Ireland. Sadly, mainly due to severe injury, I left in 1991. Whilst recovering from this, previous experiences had their effect and I’ve slowly had to work back from a diagnosis of PTSD. I raise money for H4H so that today’s young casualties can have the care and support that wasn’t available in the 1990s. The physical injuries are clear, but the mental injuries take much longer to become apparent. The first bike ride in May 2008 was life changing, it gave me back my links to the service community and self respect as an old soldier and the debt is being paid back by riding again... and again... and again."

www.justgiving.com/BWPayne

Neil and Diana Berry

Cycling for Help for Heroes because . . .

"The main inspiration behind us doing the bike ride is Diana and our two sons! We are also a cycling family anyway. Training is going well and we are ahead of our schedule. Neither of us have service histories, although Diana was an Army Cadet Instructor for a year in 2004. Diana’s sons are both in the Forces, one in the RAF and one in the Army. Diana saw the 2010 BBBR advertised on the website and she wanted to do it but I wasn’t sure an organised ride was really me. A couple of days later, I decided to sign and Diana didn’t want to miss the fun so signed up too! We are both really looking forward to the physical challenge, it’s a chance to be part of something incredible, knowing that we have played a part in helping our young, modest and largely unsung heroes."

www.bmycharity.com/neilcberry

Tony Schofield

Cycling for Help for Heroes because . . .

"I signed up for the ride for a number of reasons. The main one is simple - as a (now grown up) forces kid, and with all forces friends, I have always had a close link to the armed services. I clearly remember, when I was small, the long months when my father was away and the pride with which my mother would hang the Sun’s ‘support our boys’ posters in our window during the Falklands. Without getting political, I don’t think that the bulk of the country realises the devastation wreaked on forces families by injuries (and accidents) which is why I was so keen to support Help for Heroes, which has done a huge amount to raise awareness, as well as funds.

Linked to this, a small number of partners, myself included, have worked to make H4H a Deloitte corporate charity partner, with me as the sponsoring partner. As a result, I am keen to get to know the organisation and the individuals better, and what better opportunity that riding through the sunshine in France.

Of course, it isn’t all serious - I also have two other goals. The first is an excuse to get much fitter and not hide behind work as an excuse for not having enough time to spend on the basics. The second is looking forward to spending time over a beer (or cheap local wine) having new experiences and making new friends."

www.justgiving.com/Deloitte4Heroes

Mark Baker

Cycling for Help for Heroes because . . .

"I have been in the RAF for 30 years this year and for the last 10 years have lived near Devizes in Wiltshire - but my family home was Cambridge (where my parents still live). Aircrew by trade, my flying days are now well and truly over and I am currently a student at the Royal College of Defence Studies in Belgravia, London before I return to the MOD Whitehall in the Summer.

I left the green warm Spring days of Wiltshire in Apr 09 to spend the relentless and demanding Summer, Autumn and early Winter in Afghanistan. Based at Camp Bastion and Kandahar Air Base, I commanded the Royal Air Force in Afghanistan. This was my first tour in Afghanistan having had a few spells in and over Iraq; however, this was different and that difference was what made me feel strongly about doing something when I got home - to help our heroes. Whilst I was in Afghanistan I attended so many repatriation ceremonies for the fallen and flew many of the wounded back to Kandahar from Camp Bastion. It was a very difficult Summer and so many of our young men and women suffered, and so many still do - not just those with the physical injuries but those who gave so much to recovering the wounded: the firemen who carried them from the helicopters, the medics who greeted them at Camp Bastion and those who flew on the Chinook, saving many lives.

It was my wife, Amanda who found out about the BBBR10 and signed me up whilst I was still away, knowing that it would give me something to aim for on my return. Whilst the cold winter has made training difficult it hasn't been difficult to remain motivated and I cannot wait for the end of May to share the experience with so many others. Fundraising has been a struggle at times but I am now approaching £5,000 raised and am sure I will break that figure by May... it is the least we can do."

www.bmycharity.com/markfbaker

Samantha Boggis

Cycling for Help for Heroes because . . .

"I'm 21 years old, I live in Great Yarmouth and am quite possibly one of the smallest Prison Officers in the country (I'm only 5”1). I signed up for the bike ride as, being a fiancé of a soldier, I often feel helpless with not be able to physically help and offer support to my fiancé when he is away and in training, therefore I signed up for the bike ride to show support to him and all serving forces personnel, and to show just how proud I am of all the guys and girls.

With my fiancé Matthew and his regiment 7 Para RHA returning to Afghanistan this coming October I cannot explain how apprehensive I am, for me this bike ride is able to keep me focused. Although I can't help but think it may be possible that the money I and the other cyclists are raising could quite possibly be used to help some of those serving whilst my fiance and his regiment are on tour. Help for Heroes is a fantastic charity that helps “us civvies” to show our support and show our heroes how proud we are of them by helping them recover, get rehabilitated and support them when they need it most. I am not a natural cyclist, I do moan every time I get on the bike but the thought of me helping those wounded in war and the sacrifices that some have made keeps me focused on the nasty hills and determined to raise as much as I can for our heroes. Of course the phrase “pain is weakness leaving the body” is very much embedded into my head thanks to my other half…"

www.bmycharity.com/sammyboggis