War hero's UK cycle 'warm-up' (From Daily Echo)
When news happens, text SDE and your photos or videos to 80360. Or contact us by email and phone.
Soldier who lost both legs cycles across Britain on hand-driven bike
1:20pm Thursday 7th June 2012 in Charity
Sgt Simon Harmer.
A HEROIC Hampshire soldier who lost both legs in a bomb blast in Afghanistan has cycled across Britain – as a warm-up for taking on two of the world’s toughest challenges.
Sgt Simon Harmer, injured in the devastating blast while on patrol three years ago, joined seven other wounded soldiers to cover 417 miles across the country by using just his hands.
The cyclists passed through ten counties and scaled 10,000ft over the two-day challenge.
It comes as a warm-up for their epic 3,051-mile endurance ride across 12 states of America this month.
He will ride a specially adapted, hand-driven bike in the Race Across America (RAAM) and the Battle Back Team hope to raise £100,000 for Help for Heroes when they scale heights more than 100,000ft in just eight days.
Less than one month later the new dad-of-one will compete in the Ironman UK challenge.
To sponsor Simon text RAAM to 70900 to donate £5 or leave your message of support and donation at bmycharity.com/ battlebackraam2012.
