A BASINGSTOKE accountant joined 100 bikers to ride across four counties to raise money for Blind Veterans UK.

Alison Cross was inspired to take part in the epic Ride for Life Beyond Sight Loss event after researching her father’s military career.

The event is held annually for the national charity, which was set up in 1915 and supports blind and vision-impaired ex-service men and women to lead self-sufficient lives.

Thirty-nine-year-old Alison’s father was a lieutenant commander in the Royal Navy.

He continued to work with the Royal Navy as a civil servant through to his retirement.

Her father joined the Royal Navy straight from school in the 1950s and moved to the Ministry of Defence in 1972, aged 40, after spending at least five years in Tamar, Hong Kong.

Alison heard from her father that her godfather, who was a rear admiral, brought his scooter on a ship from Singapore to Hong Kong.

Her father still has the scooter and used it to commute to work during the 1980s.

Alison said: “I only take part in bike rides that have some meaning to my life and, with my father being in the Royal Navy, and my godparents having a military connection, I wanted to fundraise for veterans.”

Alison’s godmothers were married to officers – one to a major and the other to a retired Royal Navy commander.

Alison rode her BMW S1000RR for the ride, which brought together bikers from across the country to support the charity in its centenary year.

She joined two groups of motorcyclists travelling from the Fire Service College in Moreton-in-March, Gloucestershire, to the Blind Veterans UK centre in Brighton.

Around 15 ex-service men and women with vision impairment joined the bikers for a barbecue and raffle in the garden at the finish.

In the raffle, Alison won a rocking horse made by veterans at the centre.

She said: “On the way back to my bike, one of the veterans gave me my own guided tour of the artwork and crafts made at the centre, and also the pool and very impressive gym.

“It was a lovely place, I had a great day and was delighted to have done the ride to help Blind Veterans UK.”