I have been very fortunate in obtaining a place in the Help for Heroes event for 2009, it has been called the Band of Brothers Bike Ride 2009 (BBBR09), takes place in May and only 300 riders can take part.

It follows a route from the Normandy battlefields to Paris to commemorate the Allies’ liberation of Europe 65 years ago. With us will be teams from our Allies of today, wounded servicemen from America, Canada & France and as well as our own from Headley Court – 350 miles and we only have 5 days in which to travel that distance on road bikes!

The ride will be a challenge, is not flat, and it will certainly be one of the most worthwhile things I have ever done. We will ride alongside brave men and women whose lives have also changed forever through their injuries some of them are missing legs, arms or are blind. You will have the satisfaction of knowing that you will be helping by donating money for them and hundreds like them.

Our young men and women of the Armed Forces will say that they are not heroes; they will tell you that they are just blokes doing their job. We think that anyone who volunteers to serve in time of war, knowing that they may risk all, is a hero. These are ordinary people doing extraordinary things and some of them are living with the consequences of their service for life.

Some of the money will be helping to provide the new swimming pool and gym complex at DMRC Headley Court. At present the servicemen have to use the local public swimming pool at Leatherhead. Another beneficiary will be towards relative’s houses at Headley Court and Selly Oak. The houses are fully equipped to be a haven for the relatives of the wounded when they visit their loved ones in hospital.

So please dig deep we need to raise £millions ASAP, please be generous for the benefit of our injured soldiers.