Veteran quartet embark on 5000 mile ride to Cyprus to raise funds for Armed Forces charity

Four veteran mates are preparing to embark on an epic 5000-mile adventure to raise money for Armed Forces charity Help for Heroes.  

The ex-squaddie quartet, all of whom served in the Royal Hampshire Regiment – nicknamed ‘The Tigers’, will set off aboard their Harley-Davidsons in June.   

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They will ride from Tidworth Camp in Wiltshire and through mainland Europe before crossing the Bosporus straight into Türkiye, eventually finishing the first leg of their trek at the Dhekelia Station base, in Cyprus. Upon completion of the first leg of their adventure, the group will retrace their wheel tracks, returning to Tidworth Camp on June 19.  

Alan Sands, one of the veterans, said: “This was about us having the experience of a lifetime; sharing it would be a statement of our friendship and a reminder of the camaraderie of when we served as young men; a time to reminisce and share old stories.  

“But it has now become more than that – it’s not just about four veterans. It’s about all the veterans who gave so much for this country. It’s about the loved ones left behind; it’s about the people who still mourn for those who can’t be with us. It’s about those who constantly battle with everyday life; it’s about those who feel left behind.  

Alan added: “We four have lost friends in conflicts, we have also seen the devastation it leaves behind. We lost a very good friend on a tour, and he left behind a daughter who never got to see her father.  

“So, this is very personal and very close to our hearts. We hope that whatever is raised will help make some difference to someone else’s life. That an ex-serviceman or woman get a meal, get a roof over their heads, get the help they need to recover.”  

Help for Heroes’ area fundraising manager, John Carpenter, commented: “Our thanks go to the ‘Tigers’ for their efforts; it’s a long journey and I hope it’s as memorable for them as it is beneficial to their fellow veterans.”  

To support the undertaking, head to helpforheroes.org.uk now.