A FUNERAL director is taking on a gruelling cycling challenge from London to Paris to raise money for the Royal British Legion.
Julian Walker, director of family business A.B. Walker, is in training to take on a gruelling change for the Royal British Legion by cycling from London to Paris in just four days.
He will join more than 300 other cyclists at Eltham Palace, London, on Thursday, August 31 at the start of the Pedal to Paris bike ride to raise money for the British Armed Forces community.
Mr Walker, who started cycling just a year ago, said: "I have really enjoyed training and I am now looking forward to the bike ride to Paris.
"I served as an infantry officer before joining the family business and I know the importance of the support offered by the Royal British Legion."
During the challenge Mr Walker, 48, will cycle almost 300 miles through London, Kent and Northern France before finishing in Paris on Sunday, September 3 where a service of Remembrance will be held at the Arc de Triomphe.
Pedal to Paris is the only other cycling event next to the Tour de France, for which the Champs-Élysées is closed to traffic for the cyclists to cross onto the Arc de Triomphe.
Mr Walker is hoping to raise at least £3,000 for the Legion, the nation’s biggest Armed Forces charity, which delivers through life support to Serving personnel, veterans and their families.
Claire Rowcliffe, Director of Fundraising at The Royal British Legion, said: “We are very grateful to Julian for taking on the Pedal to Paris challenge. It really is an incredible experience and we wish him all the best for the ride, which is now in its 22nd year.
"Apart from the training that goes into preparing for the event, the fundraising that he is undertaking on behalf of the Legion will help those we support live on to a more hopeful future.”
Pedal to Paris is the UK’s longest running charity bike ride between the two capital cities.
Since it started in 1996, the event has raised more than £5 million for the Legion, helping support its vital work with the Armed Forces Community.
If you wish to sponsor Julian Walker please visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/julianwalkerpedaltoparis
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