Hi I’m Adam,

I’m 34 and from Burton upon Trent. I previously served 7 1/2 years in the armed forces. I was part of the 3rd battalion Staffordshire regiment. I joined the army in September 2006 and my first posting was at Tidworth (Wiltshire). I was part of A company 2 platoon. Most of my time there we took part in being the enemy for all the troops going out to Afghanistan. We probably spent 3 weeks out of 4 on exercise on the Salisbury plain. We then moved to Germany to a little town called Bad Fallingbostel, just north of Hannover. In 2009 we went to Canada and took part in a month long exercise on a huge training area living out in the field doing live firing on all weapon systems. By this point of my short career I was a driver of the worrior, which is an armoured fighting vehicle. Like a tank but can carry up to 8 troops in the back. The vehicle is designed to be able to deploy a unit of soldiers close to a enemy location and also give protection and firepower from the weapon system on the worrior.

I went to Afghanistan in 2011 in February on Herrick 14. The very first day it was raining which definitely made it feel like home. I was a worrior driver in B company 4 platoon. I was also specialised in the 81mm and 60mm mortar. We went on numerous missions with and without the vehicles. Sadly we lost an amazing friend (cod eye) Pte Gareth Bellingham. He will be forever in our hearts.

When we returned to the unit base back in Germany after our tour I then transferred to Dragon company mortar platoon which is the support company in the battalion.

Whilst the battalion went on herrick 19 I had already signed off and was in my final year in the army. I was then based in Nuneaton in England at Gamecock barracks for the last 6 months. My role was to be part of the rear operations duty.

I was a small unit of soldiers made up of 1 NCO and 2 Pte soldiers from each battalion in the Brigade. Our tasking was to take soldiers to and from the RCDM at the Queen Elizabeth hospital in Birmingham. A state of the art facility to treat major injuries from wounded patients in Afghanistan but also around the country. We visited the Fisher house which is a home away from home for military personnel many of whom served in Iraq and Afghan. Who also have to go back for treatment and ongoing surgery.

We also had to collect the family and escort them to the funeral of one of our brother in arms WO2 Ian Fisher who was killed on deployment in Afghanistan. He was the beating heart of the Staffordshire Regiment.

Coming out of the army in 2014 I still have my own personal battles and memories I will NEVER forget. Luckily I found Leanne who I married in 2014 who is my rock and I think without her I could be in a totally different situation.

The charity I have chosen is close to my heart. THE VETERANS’ FOUNDATION not only gives advice and support if you are suffering with PTSD they also give grants to veterans who are building their future. They also educate and employ veterans and their families, have a lottery to raise money and have given over £16.5 million to 883 projects in 404 charities and organisations.

Over the past few years I have done my best to raise money for a number of charities. I literally turn my driveway in to a “drive of Remembrance” where I turn it in to a WW1 trench and raise money for the POPPY APPEAL. Last year raising money for the VETERANS WITH DOGS by attempting to climb the national 3 peaks and going over the 24 hrs by only 8 minutes and this June reattempting the 3 peaks and completing it in 23 hrs 37 minutes in aid of WEST MERCIA SEARCH AND REACUE.

I knew Scott was planning on doing the JOGLE and I was keen but didn’t really take on the challenge until my wife Leanne asked if I fancied going on a bike ride. The 3 peaks is a challenge but this is on another scale. Not only is it going to challenge us physically having to cycle day after day but mentally and I am 100% with Scott on this as the charity’s we are raising money and publicity for are so worth the 10 days of blood sweat and tears. We chose our independent charities but we are a team on this. So please dig deep where you can and donate.

Many thanks Adam biggs