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Mr and Miss England to invade France, supported by 300 Legionnaires

23 July 2010

STOP PRESS: 1 September 2010 - Katrina Hodge has pulled out of Pedal to Paris

Pedal to Paris 2010 launchMiss England, Lance Corporal Katrina Hodge and former England football manager Graham Taylor, announced their intention to take part in The Royal British Legion's 'Pedal to Paris' at a photo call by the French Embassy in London today.

The London to Paris bike ride, this year celebrating its 15th anniversary, starts in Greenwich on Thursday 2 September with the 300 strong peloton finishing at the Arc de Triomphe on Sunday 5 September 2010.

The 300 riders including Miss England and Graham Taylor are hoping to raise in excess of £500,000 for the Armed Forces charity, which supports serving and ex-Service members of the Armed Forces community and their dependants.

Miss England, L/Cpl Hodge, is a 22 year-old soldier from Kent serving with the Adjutant Generals Corps. Dubbed 'Combat Barbie', L/Cpl Hodge was awarded a medal for bravery during a tour of Iraq. Wrestling a weapon off a prisoner, she was able to disable him with her bare hands - thus saving the lives of her comrades.

L/Cpl Hodge, a long time supporter of The Royal British Legion said, "I'm so privileged to be asked to take part in this event. People often think of the Legion as only being there for the ex-Service community, but it's not. The Legion is there for serving personnel like myself just as much! Pedal to Paris is going to be a huge physical challenge, but I'm sure we'll have a lot of fun along the way."

Former England football manager Graham Taylor, who recently returned from the World Cup in South Africa where he has been commentating for BBC Radio 5 Live, said, "The Legion is such a worthy cause and the work they do is so important at the moment, what with events in Afghanistan." Taylor added, "I'm really looking forward to testing myself on the ride, I hear it can be pretty gruelling. I'm confident however, that I will finish the ride. I am already looking forward to the champagne celebrations at the Arc de Triomphe!"

The Royal British Legion's Director of National Events and Fundraising, Russell Thompson OBE said, "We are delighted to have Miss England and Graham Taylor on board for this year's ride. Miss England in particular will certainly add some glamour to the event and Graham is such a character, I'm sure he will bring a lot of colour to the ride."

Thompson added, "The fact that Miss England also happens to be a serving soldier, makes her inclusion all the more relevant, as the ride is designed to raise funds for our Armed Forces community, like the £20 million we have recently committed to four new Armed Forces Personnel Recovery Centres."

Seen by many in the cycling world as the best event of its kind, the ride is escorted along the entire route by police outriders, finishing eventually at the Arc de Triomphe, which is closed especially for the Legion's riders. The only other cycling event that receives this honour is the Tour De France.

For the first time this year, the event is being sponsored by Actimel, the probiotic drinking yogurt. Actimel Senior Brand Manager, Rob Bayne said, "Everyone at Actimel believes this is a worthy cause and a great challenge, so much so that several of us are taking part."

To sponsor Miss England text: 'Miss England' to 70222, text messages cost £3 plus standard network charges or visit www.justgiving.com/missengland

To sponsor Graham Taylor text: 'Graham' to 70222, text messages cost £3 plus standard network charges or visit www.justgiving.com/grahamtaylor

- ENDS -

Notes to Editors:
The Royal British Legion is the nation's leading Armed Forces charity providing care and support to all members of the British Armed Forces past and present and their families. It is also the national Custodian of Remembrance and safeguards the Military Covenant between the nation and its Armed Forces. It is best known for the annual Poppy Appeal and its emblem the red poppy.

For media enquiries on Pedal to Paris or The Royal British Legion contact: 
 Liam Maguire, Press Officer, The Royal British Legion
T: 0203 207 2242  M: 07769 968858 E: lmaguire@britishlegion.org.uk

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