A TRIO of ex-servicemen are in training for an epic 1,400mile bike ride through Britain to raise thousands of pounds for their wounded comrades.

Former Royal Engineer Steve Craddock, Naval veteran Lee Patmore, disability fitness instructor at the Brentwood Leisure Centre and retired Royal Marine Brian Kilgannon will cycle from John O’Groats in Scotland to Land’s End in Cornwall in a bid to raise cash for Help for Heroes.

Ambassador and model Jodie Kidd who is the Patron of the ride and will be joining us for several days.

But when their feat begins in May, the former warriors will not be content with the challenge that has tested the mettle of cyclists for decades.

Instead of taking the usual 960-mile route through the western spine of Great Britain, Steve, Brian and Lee have set themselves the added challenge of visiting SEVEN military bases along the way.

These diversions will add almost 500 miles to the route and will mean cycling up hills, totalling a whopping 63,000ft – the equivalent of more than twice the height of Mount Everest.

This is a tough ask of anyone, let alone for Steve and Brian who both suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from their time in services and will be fighting their own mental demons along with the physical toll the route will take.

However, Steve and Brian will get inspiration from Lee who suffers from Fibromyalgia, a condition that causes heightened pain and extreme tiredness.

Lee, a former Able Seaman, now mainly confined to a wheelchair, will take on this mammoth journey on a custom-made cycle he will power by his arms.

He works as a disability fitness instructor at Brentwood Leisure Centre. He qualified after completing several courses with Help For Heroes.

Lee said: “Steve will say that this ride is about me and my determination to complete it, but I feel that the ride is about team work. Steve is a good friend and a fellow veteran. We both have our illnesses adding barriers to life, but for me, as a team we can complete some amazing journeys and challenges.

“Brentwood Centre were the first to offer their support at the very start of the planning stage. It’s an amazing feeling to have my employer backing us in such a big way.”

Jodie Kidd praised the trio for planning the epic ride.

She said: “Help for Heroes’ motto is to inspire, enable and support. Stephen is inspirational in the fundraising work he does, as well as showing those with long-term mental issues can achieve incredible things.

As an ambassador for Help for Heroes, I’ve seen the remarkable work the charity does in enabling and supporting veterans to reclaim their lives.”

The general route will be:

• John O’Groats.

• Livingstone (Gore Bike Wear).

• Catterick, North Yorkshire (Phoenix House).

• Colchester, Essex (Chavase House).

• Brentwood, Essex.

• Brompton Barracks, Chatham, Kent.

• Tidworth, Hampshire (Tedworth House).

• Plymouth, Devon (Hasler Company).

• Land’s End.

The Band of Brothers are hoping to complete the challenge within 30 days and are aiming to cover between 60 or 70 miles per day, with three rest days if required.

Updates on their progress are available on Twitter, Facebook and their daily blog.

For more information, visit ourcycle2recovery.co.uk