Marathon biker aims to ‘thank’ Army charity

STUART PIKE

AFORMER soldier is undertaking a mammoth 2,745mile bike ride as a thank you to an army charity, 12 years after he was severely wounded.

Martyn Gibbons, from Stacksteads, is a pastoral mentor at Fearns Community Sports College, but has been allowed special leave to undertake road cycling challenge The Tour Divide.

He will begin the bike ride on Friday, June 14, in Banff, Canada and hopes to reach the end of the ride - at Antelope Wells, New Mexico - after 25 days in the saddle. He will be cycling for 16 hours a day.

In 2007, while a serving Sergeant in Afghanistan in Sangrin, shrapnel from an 82mm mortar went through both of Martyn’s legs and he subsequently needed 15 operations. Surgeons fused two of his broken bones, he had extensive skin and muscle grafts and had to learn to walk again. In 2010 he was made an MBE for displaying outstanding bravery and courage.

While recuperating, he began cycling as a means of aiding his recovery.

Martyn, who is married to Kim and has three daughters, did the Dales Divide at Easter, a 375mile bike ride from Good Friday to Easter Monday.

He said: “I am worried about how my legs are going to cope and if I am going to have any bone issues.

“I am not looking to break any records, but want to raise money for The Soldiers’ Charity to say thank you for the support they gave me and my family when I was injured and since.

“I wanted to do it because I like doing challenges, but it is the last stupid thing I am allowed to do.”

His JustGiving page is currently nearly £700 and he hopes to raise £3,000 by the end of the ride. Visit www.justgiving.com and search ‘Martyn Gibbons’. ●● Martyn Gibbons in training for his mammoth 2,745 mile bike ride and (inset) during his Army days