�A Hornchurch cyclist is planning the trip of a lifetime in aid of Britain’s heroes.
Ryan Barrell, of Station Lane, will join 14 friends from Exeter University in a 4,400-km cycle from London to Istanbul over the summer. The group hopes to raise �45,000 for Help for Heroes – the charity that supports those injured in Britain’s armed conflicts.
Europe
“The idea was to go across all of Europe,” said Mr Barrell, 19. “It’s a big event [but] the people that Help for Heroes support have done something so much more.”
The cause is close to Mr Barrell’s heart because his grandfather John Lawrence, who died last year, served in the RAF after the Second World War.
And the second-year Middle Eastern Studies student is particularly looking forward to seeing Turkey’s largest city.
“When we get to Istanbul we’ll chill out for a bit and check out some of the architecture,” he said. “We’re going to see so many different cultures. Making the transition from France to Italy and seeing the whole of north of Italy is going to be absolutely amazing. The views are going to be lovely,” he added, “but we’ve got to get up the mountains. That’s going to be very difficult.”
Anyone wishing to sponsor the trip can donate directly to Help for Heroes via http://www.justgiving.com/ryanbarrell. The group leaves on July 26.
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