A HELP for Heroes team of eight wounded, injured and sick veterans and service personnel will take on one of the world’s toughest endurance cycling events.
Former Army corporal, Josh Boggi, from Salisbury, is part of the team taking on the 3,081 mile Race Across America (RAAM), which stars on June 17.
The team, plus two reserves, is made up of riders who suffer from psychological and physical wounds, and they will push themselves to the limit both physically and mentally in the pursuit of finishing the RAAM in under seven days.
The riders are using the challenge as part of their recovery as well as aiming to raise £100,000 for Help for Heroes as a way of giving back to a charity which has supported them since injury.
Starting in Oceanside, California competitors pass through 12 states before finishing in Annapolis, Maryland.
To achieve their seven-day target, the team will need to maintain an average speed of over 18.3 mph covering a minimum of 440 miles a day.
The team will be captained by former 40 Commando Royal Marine and now military Paralympian Joe Townsend.
He said: “I love a challenge and having completed some of the toughest sporting challenges, I need to keep pushing myself. Post Rio 2016 I wanted to do something for myself because training for a 4 year cycle is incredibly hard especially to keep motivated psychologically.
“I want another taste of the military humour and camaraderie that cannot be found in civilian life. I need a top up of this every now and again to remind me of how I operate as a person.”
Lead strength and conditioning coach at Help for Heroes, Jon-Paul Nevin, said: “A challenge like Race Across America helps to emphasise the power of sport in the recovery process for our wounded, injured and sick. Sport is incredibly powerful as a means of rebuilding confidence and providing a sense of empowerment, as well as aiding physical and mental recovery. By taking part in this epic feat and demonstrating their strength and determination in both training for and completing this challenge, the riders will hopefully inspire many others who are trying to rebuild their life post-injury.”
To donate, go to justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/helpforheroes/RAAM2017
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