Mary King, a veteran from Little Beckford, Worcs, is one of a team of six wounded veterans that use cycling to help overcome a variety of mental and physical health challenges – from PTSD and spinal injuries to arm paralysis and chronic illnesses – who are urging others to join them and saddle up to raise vital funds for fellow wounded and sick veterans.
Mary, 66, has signed up to take part in Help for Heroes’ new cycling fundraiser, Heroes Ride 200, which asks participants to ride 200 miles, individually or cumulatively as a team, anywhere, and on any bike, between 1st and 30th June. Along with five other veterans, she has created a veterans’ team, the ‘Heroes Team’, who have signed up together for mutual support and motivation. They also aim to highlight the positive impact of cycling on physical and mental wellbeing, while promoting the inclusivity of Heroes Ride 200 as a cycling event. She will be cycling 200 miles on a recumbent trike.
Mary served for five years in the Women’s Royal Naval Service as a Leading Wren MT (Motor Transport) Driver. While serving she was involved in a road traffic accident that left her with a crushed spine and the injury eventually led to her leaving the Armed Forces.
Fourteen years later she was hit by a double decker bus which injured her back further and meant a series of leg operations. Having enjoyed cycling all her life, she was desperate to go cycling but found it impossible to use an upright bike. Thankfully, she got funding for a recumbent trike and signed up to a Help for Heroes cycle camp at Stoke Mandeville.
She found that getting out on her trike gave her a new lease of life and she loved the banter from cycling alongside other veterans, as the camaraderie from those in the military was something she had missed. She has now gone on to join a women’s cycle group and attend many of Help for Heroes’ cycling events. Mary has also been diagnosed with PTSD and has had support from Help for Heroes’ Hidden Wounds team, but she finds that cycling – particularly in a group – also helps her with her mental health.
Between now and the end of June, Mary and her fellow Heroes Team members will be telling their stories, training tips and progress on social media which will be shared on Help for Heroes’ own social media channels. They even hope they will be able to meet up for a finale to the challenge on 30th June if Covid restrictions allow!
Whilst 200 miles is a challenging, but far from impossible, distance for most weekend cyclists, it can be a huge individual challenge for many veterans who have been injured or become ill as a result of their time in the Armed Forces. This is why Heroes Ride 200 is encouraging teams as well as individuals to sign up so that, even if someone only feels able to cycle five miles, they are still contributing and making a difference to the team total.
She says, “Joining up to Heroes Ride 200 as a team is great. We may not all be cycling together physically, but we can still enjoy good banter and you know that everyone is there for you – plus some of us may be able to arrange to get together for a ride in June if we can, which will be fun! I had knee replacement surgery in November and so with that, and lockdown, I have been getting stir crazy. As soon as I heard about Heroes Ride 200 I signed up as it’s a fantastic excuse for me to get back out there and feel that sense of escape that cycling gives you. I also love the fact that it’s championing inclusivity as I don’t think people realise how accessible cycling is as a sport and leisure activity. It really is something that anyone can do.”
Hannah Lawton, Sports Recovery Manager at Help for Heroes, adds, “Cycling is a great sport for anyone. The Heroes Team embody the amazing spirit of our cycling veterans and, as their assortment of hand bikes, recumbent trikes and upright bikes show, there is a bike to suit pretty much any impairment, making cycling one of the most adaptive sports there is. This is what has made cycling a core activity in the recovery of many of our veterans.
“With Heroes Ride 200 we hope to encourage many others to join us, whatever their skill or fitness level, and experience all the mental and physical health benefits of being on two wheels. All whilst raising vital funds for wounded and sick veterans.”
Ninety-seven-per-cent of Help for Heroes’ income comes from the great British public, but it experienced a 65% loss to its income from events in 2020 due to the pandemic. At the same time, demand for the charity’s services is going up. During the first lockdown, there was a 33% increase in those coming forward for mental health support.
To sign up to Heroes Ride 200 visit https://heroesride.helpforheroes.org.uk/.
