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A 75-year-old Army veteran, who was shot in the head and back during his service, is riding 2022 miles on his hand-bike along the Exe estuary to raise funds for Armed Forces charities that have supported him.

Geoff Green, from Exeter, served around the globe during his 12 years of service, but is now restricted to a wheelchair because of his spinal injury. But, with support from us and Blesma, he is able to fend for himself and, using a hand-bike partially funded by the charities, he can be seen regularly adding to his weekly total as he looks to rack up the miles.

His service began, as a boy soldier, aged just 15, in 1962, with the Junior Leaders Battalion, Royal Army Service Corps, at Norton Manor, in Taunton – a boys’ service unit – before being rebadged and sent to Borneo for his first posting, with the Royal Army Ordnance Corps.

He explained: “In recent years I’ve been involved with Help for Heroes and Blesma and I wanted to give something back to two worthy charities that constantly help injured ex-service men and women with vital funding necessary for everyday living needs.

“And then, because the Ukraine crisis came up, I have included a Ukraine charity as well, because I was quite touched by the suffering people were forced to experience over there.

“I go out on my bike quite often and thought I could use my time to raise funds for the charities. I’ve covered off the first 300 miles of my target, so only another 1,800 or so to go. I’m not sure how long it will take. At my age, anything can happen.

Geoff Green takes a well-earned break from his fundraising
Geoff Green takes a well-earned break from his fundraising

“I go out three or four times a week and generally average around 20 miles each time, so it’ll probably take me into the summer months to complete the 2022 miles.

“It’s not easy. I like to keep fit, anyway, and keeping fit is not pleasurable all the time. If I could take a tablet to keep fit and get me to the same goal, rather than going for a grind, I’d do it – I’m not stupid,” he laughed.

“I’ve got a mate who likes to keep fit, so we cycle along the estuary cycle-path: this side, towards Dawlish and Starcross, is about 19 miles; or we can go the Exmouth side, which is probably a 25-mile round trip. But it’s harder going on that side, more hilly. As the summer comes in we’ll probably go onto Dartmoor and do some different trails there.”

To donate to Geoff Green’s fundraising efforts for Help for Heroes, Blesma and Ukraine, visit his GoFundMe page.

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