A FORMER marine who was helped by Help for Heroes when he was invalidated has managed to cycle near 1,000 miles to raise money in their honour.

Jon Webster of Parsonage Road, Hilperton, decided to take on the John O’Groats to Lands End ride after pondering over the idea for many years and has so far raised £3,000 which will be split alongside Alzheimer’s Support and the Royal Marines Charity.

The 57-year-old said: “I thought the ride would be a good way to catch people’s imagination and it was a good challenge for me because it is something I have thought about doing for a while.

“I had planned to do lots of training but I did a bit a bit but nothing to the scale of what I should have. During the ride though, you get fit as you go along and you know what your limit it.

“All three charities are all doing work which is not necessarily the high profile stuff in the news but all of it is helping people and knowing I’m raising money to help them is good news because it does a huge amount of good to deserving people.”

Despite taking on the intrepid challenge a fortnight ago, it isn’t the first time that Mr Webster has taken on a mammoth cycling ride as he previously cycled across Zambia for WaterAid around eight years ago.

Mr Webster, who was in the Royal Marines in the 1980s, has a family connection to Alzheimer’s Support as his wife Debbie volunteers in their Mill Street day club in Trowbridge.

“Towards the end of the first week, the last day coming out of south Scotland to Carlisle was quite a tough day and the wind was against me,” he said.

“My wife Debbie came with me and she was my support vehicle. It was good psychological wise to have someone to meet up with at the end of every day.”

Alzheimer’s Support CEO Babs Harris said: “We are so grateful to Jon for completing this epic cycle ride for charity including Alzheimer’s Support and for the Mill Street Club, which relies on fundraising to stay open.”

To donate, visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/jonwebster1664