TWO senior officers based at Carver Barracks are gearing up to cycle 500 miles for charity.

Commanding Officer of the 33 Engineer Regiment (EOD), Lieutenant Colonel Eldon Millar, and Regimental Sergeant Major Nick Kennedy will be amongst 50 other cyclists in the Ride of Britain.

Starting on Wednesday, the event covers 500 miles from Edinburgh to London.

The duo are aiming to raise £3,333 for Saafa, a national armed forces charity which provides lifelong support – practical, emotional and financial – for current and former members of the Forces and their families.

Sgt Major Kennedy said: “Saafa is the chosen external charity of the regiment and a fantastic organisation. It provides lifelong support to ex-servicemen and their families, so works differently to the Injured Soliders Fund and Help for Heroes.

“Saafa has done some really good work for our soldiers so any donation would be gratefully received.”

The Ride of Britain will be completed over 500 days in stages – from Edinburgh to Carlisle, on to Harrogate, then Derby, Cambridge and into London, finishing on Sunday on The Mall in front of Buckingham Palace – averaging 100 miles of cycling a day.

The officers from the Wimbish base admit they’ve not had much time to prepare.

“I foolishly put myself in for the event, and Lt Cl Millar even more foolishly agreed to join me,” joked Sgt Major Kennedy.

“We’re both complete amateur cyclists and haven’t covered many miles in training. I’ll be a bit nervous when we set off.”

He added: “Hopefully this will be the benchmark for future fund-raising events of this sort.”

To sponsor them go to http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/RedwingsRideofBritain.

A collection tin is also available in Newdales on Market Row, Saffron Walden.