A TIDWORTH serviceman will get on his bike to cycle 100 miles in aid of charity.

Steven Pople, aged 36, was inspired to take part in the Prudential RideLondon 100 for Blind Veterans UK after seeing the enormous impact the charity has had on his friend who was blinded by a rocket attack while serving in Afghanistan.

Steven said: “My friend, a soldier, Chris Nowell, was supported by Blind Veterans UK after he lost his sight while on duty in Afghanistan 2007.

“I decided to give something back to Blind Veterans UK in gratitude of all they have done for Chris.”

Steven joined the Army in August 1994 which saw him serve in Bosnia, Northern Ireland, Sierra Leone and Iraq.

It was while he was serving with the King’s Royal Hussars in 2001 that he first met Chris, and they have remained good friends ever since.

Steven has been training for the Prudential RideLondon 100 by going out every three days and cycling between 40 and 50 miles.

He said: “I’m a bit nervous as the ride is right after I come back from deployment in Canada but I am trying to train whenever I can fit it in.”

To sponsor Steven, visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ StevenPople.

Steven is also raising money for CLIMB, a charity for people with metabolic diseases, as his daughter is affected by salt-wasting and congenital adrenal hyperplasia.