Retired Brigadier and Network Rail’s top boss rides from London to Paris for a forces charity

17 July 2013

A senior director and retired top military officer will cycle from London to Paris to raise money for a national charity supporting limbless veterans.

Robbie, Regional Director with Network Rail and retired Brigadier of the Royal Engineers, is cycling from London to Paris for Blesma, The Limbless Veterans.

Robbie, 57, Director for Western & Wales lives in Farringdon, Oxfordshire and will undertake the bike ride with another ex-military colleague and his colleague’s wife.

The riders have set off from Tower Bridge at the crack of dawn today - Wednesday 17 July and will ride up Champs-Elysees to coincide with the last leg of Tour de France on Saturday 20 July.

Robbie, who has witnessed disabling injuries when he led soldiers in the Falkland Islands, Bosnia and the First Gulf War says: “Having served in the British Army for 26 years, I have witnessed the devastating impact on our soldiers and their families of injuries received whilst on active service. Blesma have, for many years, provided wonderful support for those who have sacrificed so much and so I am delighted to be able help in a small way by raising contributions by cycling from London to Paris.”

Blesma, The Limbless Veterans is a national charity which supports all limbless service men and women, their widows and dependants. It was formed in the years following the First World War and became a national charity in 1932.

To support Robbie in this endeavour, please visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/burnsrobbie2

-ENDS-

Notes to Editor

Blesma, The Limbless Veterans is the national charity for all limbless serving and ex service men and women, their widows and dependants.

It is a membership organisation which helps wounded service men and women rebuild their lives by providing rehabilitation activities and welfare support. Their membership includes those who have lost the use of a limb, an eye or the sight of an eye.

Blesma was formed in the years following the First World War and became a national charity in 1932. Blesma today has over 4000 Members and widows. The membership consists of men and women who have served during the Second World War and the many subsequent conflicts and peacekeeping operations since, including the Falklands, Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan.

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