A Ballymena man will probably be following the path of Brtiain’s most well-known soldier to boost funds for SSAFA, the Armed Forces Charity.
Throughout September, George Chesney will deal with ‘The Wellington Path’ – a punishing 450-mile-trip from Madrid to Bayonne in Southern France following, roughly, the route taken by The Duke of Wellington’s allied armies within the latter a part of the Peninsular Marketing campaign throughout The Napoleonic Struggle.
However whereas the iron Duke’s forces did it on foot and by hoof, George – who admits to being “over 21” – will probably be on two wheels, biking your complete route unsupported.
And what a route it will likely be, taking within the Sierra de Guadarrama with an elevation of two,130 toes, earlier than a move at 6,150ft – greater than a mile – up.
After a number of extra ascents and descents, it’s on to the Pyrenees, which George insouciantly describes as “pretty demanding”.
His coaching regime is a mixture of long-distance biking, rowing, and exhausting, bodily work on the few acres he owns.
George has an in depth army previous and current.
He was commissioned into the Corps of Royal Engineers within the Regulars the place he served for 5 years earlier than an extra 24 within the Territorials.
He’s now Chair of the Reserve Forces and Cadets Affiliation Northern Eire.
On why he set himself this problem, George stated: “Army charities are a really crowded place, and so I wished a widely known, established charity which does extra work than coping with psychological sickness, giving the assist veterans, serving personnel, and their households want, the place they want it, and the way they want it.
“Very importantly, I wished to boost cash for a charity that operates distinctly in Northern Eire, the Republic of Eire, and GB to mirror the wide-ranging models that recruited from the island of Eire through the Napoleonic Struggle, and SSAFA matches the invoice.”
George’s epic bicycling expedition begins in Madrid on September 4, however not earlier than a brace of send-offs.
The primary of those is at Galgorm Resort & Spa on August 31 with the Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Council attending, and the second is on September 3 at Belfast Rowing Membership within the presence of Dame Fionnuala Pleasure-O’Boyle, HM Lord Lieutenant for the Metropolis and Borough of Belfast.
Anybody wishing to see George off in model ought to contact ni-comms@rfca.mod.uk
SSAFA has been offering assist to veterans, serving personnel, and their households since 1885. To assist this work stick with it for veterans in Northern Eire, the Republic of Eire, the UK, and the remainder of the world, go to George’s fundraising web page at justgiving.com/fundraising/wellington-trail.
To observe George’s Wellington Path on Twitter, seek for @GeorgeChesney4.
