B*N*S*N2

Army cyclists get on their bikes in Helmand

A People In Defence news article

21 Oct 09

Two Army cyclists are discovering the hard way that it's a long way from Land's End to John O'Groats, especially if you go via Afghanistan.

Captain Rachel Thompson is taking part in a sponsored exercise bike ride in Helmand
[Picture: Sgt Rob Knight, Crown Copyright/MOD 2009]

From their base in Lashkar Gah in Helmand province, Captain Rachel Thompson and Staff Sergeant Al Clark are raising money for injured soldiers' charity 'Toe in the Water' by cycling 1,407km on exercise bikes over the next 19 days.

And back home in the UK, Sergeant Andrew Jordon-White, serving with a Signal Squadron in Aldershot, and his brother Joe will be cycling the actual route while Capt Thompson and SSgt Clark complete it on cycling machines in the UK headquarters in Lashkar Gah.

The team in Helmand has begun their challenge, which will see them waking up at 0530hrs every day for 19 days and cycling over 74km per day, while they continue their operational duties in the area.

This is the second time Capt Thompson has served in Afghanistan having joined the Army in 2002. The previous time was in 2007-2008 when she was working with electronic countermeasures for force protection. She has also completed a tour in Iraq...

This is a very interesting story, which you can find the rest of, here.