RAF squad with a giant hill to climb

The Airborne Trials Section of the Joint Air Delivery Test and Evaluation Unit, will cycle from John O’Groats to Land’s End, via the three highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales.

And they are aiming to do it all in 99 hours.

Squadron Leader Simon Jarvis, 51, said: “The closer this challenge gets, the more daunting it is.

“It think we’re starting to realise how difficult it will be.

“We can all do 30 to 40-mile rides but what we are actually going to be doing is those rides again and again.

“We’ll be sleeping in the back of a mini-bus, so rest will be quite tricky. Then there’s the mountains we’ve got to climb.”

He added: “Everyone is really looking forward to giving it a go. I think it will be amazing.”

The men are hoping to raise £3,000 for the Royal British Legion, the Soldiers ‘Charity and the PJI Benevolent Fund. They plan to set off on Sunday, June 19.

Sqd Ldr Jarvis said: “We’ve currently got just under £2,000, so if we could get towards £4,000, or even £5,000, that would be fantastic. We chose the Royal British Legion because we know what a great job they do.

“And it’s their 90th anniversary, so it seemed appropriate.”

The unit tests equipment for airborne operations. Along the route, the men will be joined by family and friends, Sqd Ldr Jarvis said: “There’s an Army unit up near Preston, so they suggested they could come along and join us on part of the ride.

“It won’t be massive, like Ian Botham’s sponsored walk, but we’ll hopefully have some people there.”

Sqd Ldr Jarvis added: “We are all fairly fit guys anyway, but it’ll be interesting seeing what it’s like to sit on a razorblade for a few days.”

The other members of the group are Dave Skinner, Andy Wright, Rob Abbott, Simon Asquith, Phil Collett, Steve Forster, Kelvin Jordan, Keith Chapman, Tony Rayson and Jim Bowyer.

rpope@oxfordmail.co.uk To sponsor the cyclists, visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/ATSChallenge