Enthusiastic grandfather raises £20k for hero soldiers

Army pen pals might be encouraged to hear that a 59-year-old grandfather has raised £20,000 in just seven months for Help for Heroes after fighting a number of illnesses.

John Shaw from Cheddar, who has two son-in-laws in the armed forces, has battled against cancer, muscle-eating bacteria, diabetes, pneumonia and a stroke but managed to pedal away to his fundraising target ahead of schedule on a converted a bike, the Western Gazette reports.

He drove through villages across the country in his Troop Carrier, which was made after making amendments to a standard bicycle, to complete his task ten months ahead of his target, after he previously predicted to reach the cash amount in June 2011.

Mr Shaw said: "I will go on collecting as long as the boys are in Afghanistan."

Others who are performing a good deed for charity are a group of Cleethorpes-based bicycle fanatics, who are set to undergo a 2,500-mile journey to support Help for Heroes.

Posted by Mark Wilkins