For three days, from 24 to 27 September 2013, I'm bicycling from Wellington Barracks in London to Waterloo (the battlefield not the railway station) in aid of The Colonel's Fund Grenadier Guards.

The Colonel's Fund has been raising money since 2007 in order to provide support to Grenadiers who have been seriously wounded in Afghanistan, and to the families of those who have been killed in action. The Grenadiers have carried out 3 tours in Helmand Province and have lost 15 members of the Regiment who were killed in action; in addition, the Regiment has sustained a huge number of battle casualties, with many suffering life changing injuries. And of course, there remains the unquantifiable number of young men who will have suffered mentally and who will need our support in the future.

The Grenadiers pride themselves on being a family and, despite not having worn a Grenadier uniform for almost twenty years (see picture above!), the Regimental Adjutant has reinforced that "Once a Grenadier, Always a Grenadier".  

I can assure you that I will not be doing something like this again (it's 220 miles!) and any contribution you can make, however small, will make a difference - it all adds up and will take us one step nearer to reaching our target and ensure that the Colonel's Fund is well placed going forward to continue to support Grenadiers in need.

Below is a message from The Colonel Grenadier Guards, HRH Prince Philip, which succinctly explains what we are trying to do for The Colonel's Fund:

"One of the most valuable features of the regimental system is the sense of comradeship which it creates between present and past members of the Regiment, and with all their families and friends. It is always there, but, when the need arises, it can be turned into tangible and appropriate support.

The 'Wellington to Waterloo Bicycle Ride', and the fund-raising events surrounding it, are intended to convert that sense of comradeship into a practical regimental response to the severe stresses suffered by so many of its members, and to provide practical help for the bereaved families of those who have been killed in action, and for those who have suffered serious injury in recent operations. I hope you will feel able to support this novel fund-raising event."

 

If you would like to see more information about The Colonel's Fund, Grenadier Guards, go to www.grengds.com and click on The Colonel's Fund tab.

As you might imagine doing this bike ride is a major challenge for me, not least the fact that we all have to wear lycra. So I NEED YOUR SUPPORT!