A group of 150 Armed Forces veterans and volunteers have set off from London to take part in the Royal British Legion’s annual Pedal to Paris charity bike ride.
The much-loved event, now in its 29th year, will see 129 Armed Forces veterans, serving personnel and 21 volunteer medics cycle 285 miles to the French capital to raise vital funds for the UK’s largest Armed Forces charity.
Backed by RBL staff and supporters, they departed from London’s Biggin Hill and will travel through the Kent countryside before arriving in Dover bound for Calais. Once in France, the riders will pass through the French towns of Abbeville and Beauvais in the Somme, arriving in Paris on September 7th to ride down the famous Champs-Élysées to the finishing line at the Arc de Triomphe.
Ahead of its 30th anniversary next year, this popular annual fundraiser continues to be the longest-running London to Paris charity bike ride, and to date has raised more than £9 million to help the Royal British Legion continue its vital work supporting veterans, serving personnel and their families.
Leanne Buehling
Among the riders is former British Army sergeant Leanne Buehling, 33, from Whittington, Staffs, who suffered life-changing injuries during a training course that led to her being medically discharged and ending her 10-year forces career. Leanne had to undergo surgery and learn to walk again, and she turned to the RBL to support her recovery and transition back into civilian life.
“This injury not only took out my sporting life but also my career plan. It’s a rare injury to suffer from, and the recovery has been hard as I had to learn to walk again. Signing up for Pedal to Paris has provided me with something to strive for and has helped bring back some of the old Leanne as I embark on this next chapter of my life. The RBL has been here for me, and I’m determined to give back to this incredible cause. I bet a lot of people wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for them.”
Lt Col Nick Wood
Currently serving Lt Col Nick Wood, 58, from Tadworth, Surrey is one of the oldest members of the British Army, having clocked up 42 years of service. Nick joined aged just 16 through an Army apprenticeship with the Royal Corps of Signals, training in radio theory and Morse Code, and is now working on a large Army programme delivering battlefield communications systems. He has taken part in Pedal to Paris twice before and felt compelled to return to ride again this year.
“Like many people of my generation in the forces, I spent a long time in Afghanistan and Iraq on operations. I did two tours in Afghanistan and two in Iraq. By 2016 I felt a bit burnt out. Lots of service people were giving their lives around that time and it felt, for me personally, a noble cause. I wanted to raise money for the Royal British Legion for all the good work they do. It was something I just needed to do.”
Jel Bearder
Army veteran and Royal British Legion supporter Jel Bearder served in the Royal Regiment of Artillery for five years in the 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery. He served in tours across Europe and Canada during his military career, but after his relationship broke down after leaving the Army, Jel felt lost and was struggling to forge a new career path. He reached out to the RBL, and after receiving the help he needed, Jel now has a thriving career in the fitness industry.
“I cannot imagine how my life would be now without the support the RBL gave to me. Their support allowed me to become a personal trainer, and I have now worked in the fitness industry for 17 years and own my own business in North London. This support was life-changing, and I wanted to take part in Pedal to Paris to give back to the RBL and thank them for the help they gave me.”
“We’re delighted to be welcoming nearly 130 participants to our 29th annual Royal British Legion Pedal to Paris ride. It’s so inspiring to see riders from across the country come together to show their support for the Armed Forces community. In the last year we’ve been able to provide support to over 22,000 service personnel and their families, and we’re only able to continue doing that with the help of the money raised by people taking part in events like this. A huge thank you to everyone generous enough to give their time, and we’d encourage anyone interested in joining us for our 30th year of Pedal to Paris next year to visit our website."
Teresa Greener, spokesperson for the Royal British Legion
Teresa has worked for the charity for 25 years and has only missed one Pedal to Paris in that time.
Money raised from events like Pedal to Paris allows the RBL to provide expert advice and practical support to those in need from the Armed Forces community, through recovery programmes for injured service personnel with physical or mental health challenges, to providing grants and support for issues like housing and the transition to civilian life.