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LNR ACF SUPPORT THE BIG BATTLEFIELD BIKE RIDE

LNR ACF has decided to channel its charity and fundraising efforts this year into the ‘Help For Heroes’ Charity.

When ex LNR ACF Instructor Kate MacIntyre asked for sponsorship on the ‘Big Battlefield Bike Ride’ we were delighted to be able to help.

Fundraising to date and donations from the Officers’ and Sergeants’ Messes enabled the Commandant to present Miss MacIntyre with a cheque for £1,000.

The ‘Big Battlefield Bike Ride’ is one of a number of major events being planned to raise funds for the ‘Help For Heroes’ appeal. Starting in Portsmouth on 26 May, Miss MacIntyre will be riding through the battlefields of Northern France alongside hundreds of others. We wish her well.

All detachments of LNR ACF have been set a target of raising at least £50 for this extremely worthwhile Charity, and we hope to present a further cheque at Christmas.

Message from Kate

Hello there, just to give you a quick update on my training so far:

The recent few days of sunshine have managed to draw me out onto the roads and into the countryside more easily than in the last few months. There are just over two weeks left until I depart from HMS Victory on 26th May to commence the ride and I must admit I am beginning to feel apprehensive but when I think about the reasons for doing the ride, it makes it easier to put my head down and accept that a little pain and hardship is worth the effort. The more miles I put in, the easier the distances seem to become and if I remain cool, calm and collected and remember that there will be chaps in worse shape than I (there will be a team from Headly Court who have been undergoing treatment there – see web page here: http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/HC_Team.html) doing the ride too, I will be able to get through the minimum of 50 miles per day.

We finish the ride on Sunday 1st June when coaches will transfer us to Blackheath (SE London) where we will be reunited with our bicycles and head into London to meet the cyclists of the Great British Hero Ride at Whitehall. The final leg in this challenge will take us past the Cenotaph and on to our finishing point: Horse Guards parade. If any of you are in the area, it would be great to see you. I think we should be near Whitehall around lunchtime but information will be posted on the website I’m sure.

You may have heard this week that the Government has finally decided to donate £24 million to Headly Court which will be most welcome and Help for Heroes is still steadfastly determined to raise a minimum of £6 million to provide the indoor pool. When I looked at the website this morning www.helpforheroes.org.uk, the amount raised so far is £5.5m.

As the cycle ride looms closer, more awareness is being raised in the press and on radio and more and more companies and individuals are coming forward with offers of help and support. Shepherd Neame and Cadburys will be providing fuel for carbohydrate hungry riders, whilst Halfords are providing specialised jerseys for the riders to wear. The Navy will be ferrying us across the Channel which will be a first for me! The Gurkhas will be piping the riders over Pegasus Bridge and we will have a flypast in our honour from the Red Arrows. There will be some TV coverage and many photographs will be taken over the week which I will pass on upon my return – just don’t expect to see one of me falling off!!

Once more, thank you from the bottom of my heart to those who have donated so far. This cause is something I am very passionate about and your support means very much.

Best wishes and kind regards!

Kate