It is the kind of story that makes you stop and take notice. Under the Pilgrim Bandits banner, a group of 10 former soldiers are cycling around the country to help their friend fight Motor Neurone Disease. The expedition is being carried out under collaboration with Operation Ride UK, to raise funds and awareness.

They are using specially adapted bikes to get the job done. This just goes to show us all that our soldiers, both former and current, can do just about anything if they set their mind to it. And nothing can pull them back.

The proceeds are meant to help former firefighter and soldier John Chart, who is fighting Motor Neurone Disease. He was 48 when he first got his diagnosis. Given how rapidly the disease worsens a person’s health any other person would have been devastated. But John wants to fight back, despite the challenges he now faces. He is actually one of the men using a specially adapted tandem and bike to help raise funds.

Talking about the disease, he said: “Motor Neurone Disease is a demonic disease. It is like an assassin; it sneaks up on you and it’s like someone’s got a remote control and it’s just closing my body down gradually. I want to raise awareness, I want to see the devastation of what it does to you, but I also want to say to people don’t ever give up. You have got to keep going. Don’t ever give up.”

Also, a part of the expedition is former Lance Corporal Tyler Christopher. Injured in 2009 while fighting in Afghanistan, the man lost both his legs during the war. This isn’t the first time he’s taken on such a challenge, however. In the past, he has been a part of a 500-mile kayaking challenge as well.

The ride started at John O’Groats and will end at Land’s End tomorrow, bringing the entire journey up to a total of 1,000 miles. They will be bicycling around the country for almost two weeks, using their special bikes. Tyler found a way back to the life he used to love through his work with the Bandits. Talking about the current challenge, he said, “I’m really looking forward to this challenge and seeing everyone on it. I’ve really missed the comradeship and the company as I was in lockdown in a very isolated area. I had my family around, but military friendships are different.”

This is the first expedition of its kind since the lockdown was put in place. The point isn’t just to raise money but also to show other veterans that they too can push themselves. Being an amputee isn’t the end, and these men of steel are showing everyone how things are done. Vetrun180, another military charity, will be volunteering to help set up camp for food and helping manage logistics for the biking party.

You can find more information about the challenge on Facebook page, Twitter and Instagram.