Islander Paul Whitfield, alongside a close friend from the Armed Forces, Mike McSherry, will be taking part in the ride to Rheine, near the Netherlands border, to raise money for Help for Heroes.
The pair served together for 12 years, and now they are uniting once more to take on the Big Battlefield Bike Ride challenge, where together they aim to raise £6,000.
‘We signed up for Help for Heroes, which is a charity designed to help many veterans and their families from both the physical and mental traumas of war,’ said Mr Whitfield.
This cycle ride will take the pair through the Netherlands and Belgium, travelling between 60 to 70 miles daily over five days alongside around 70 other cyclists.
The Help for Heroes challenge this year is the first of its kind for the charity and this year is the 80th anniversary of peace in Europe.
Mr Whitfield and Mr McSherry wanted to support the worthy cause and give themselves a challenge.
‘You realise just how much they gave, the ultimate sacrifice, but people are still doing it, and people are tragically affected,’ said Mr Whitfield.
From 1979 to the late 1980s Mr Whitfield served in the household cavalry.
‘It does make me smile knowing I rode down the Rheine on a horse in armour and now I’m riding it on a push bike.’
Having never cycled to this extent before, Mr Whitfield has been training over the last three to four months, preparing for the challenge.
However, trying to cover 50 to 60 miles in Guernsey proves quite difficult.
‘I hope my 62-year-old body stands up to it really,’ said Mr Whitfield.
As an army veteran, the comradeship that develops throughout service is something that cannot be forgotten.
Mr Whitfield said he had received many donations from the community. ‘Guernsey is always generous when it comes to things like this.’
Although he enjoys cycling, Mr Whitfield admitted that he will be relieved to not have the pressure of cycling daily once the ride is complete.
‘I’ll keep it up as an element of fitness. but not to this extent.’
The ride to Rheine begins on Tuesday 17 June at 7am and Mr Whitfield and his bike are travelling the day before.
Although he felt somewhat anxious about the journey, Mr Whitfield said he looked forward to the fun and banter he expects the ride to bring.
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