In July 2014 Steve Moir and friends undertook a 350-mile cycle challenge to raise money for Royal Marines charity Help Our Wounded. What follows are edited exerpts from Steve’s own blog – a gripping tale of heroism…

Arriving at Chatham for the start of the 350 mile cycle challenge we felt somewhat anxious whether we could cope with what was ahead. How did we come to be here?

Jacko (Dave Jackson) arrives at my house and says what about doing this 350 challenge and raising money for a Royal Marine charity to put something back. Before we could change our minds the forms were filled in and registration sent off. Then Andy Russell arrived in my office one day and after mentioning it he too signs up (a matelot but with a son in the Royal Marines).

Now none of us had done a lengthy day ride let along several days so we started meeting up and building up our rides. Other guys joined us and after building up to around 60 miles and lots of hill training but little flat riding we were ready as we would be.

Day 1 and Jacko, Andy and I set off the few hundred yards from the hotel to the meeting point. Jacko promptly rides into the tram lines and falls off. Not an auspicious start!

Riding with a motorbike outrider through Kent countryside we go through scenic villages past Oast houses and hop fields to Canterbury College for a photo shoot, tea and cakes. Making good time we head onwards to Deal. Then disaster! Chris Duggan has three punctures in as many minutes despite our best efforts there is clearly a problem and we call for support.

Arriving in Deal behind schedule we meet at the Bandstand built to commemorate those Royal Marine bandsmen killed in the IRA deal bombings in 1989. We lay a wreath and hold a short ceremony before heading onwards towards Folkestone and our hotel with 68 miles completed.

Out of the twelve riders there are 9 ex bootnecks, one female triathlete, a lorry driver and a manager of Iceland (store not country!)

Day 2 and the Mayor of Folkestone sees us off towards Eastbourne. On Romney Marshes I somehow get separated (must be my slow flat speeds!) and I cycle the last miles alone. I don’t have a camp bed so I divert to Argos and ride to the seafront with new camp bed perched on the handlebars! Arriving at the Sea Cadets HQ most of the others are lazing in the sunshine enjoying a well-earned beer. We enjoy a meal cooked by the Sea Cadets leaders – many thanks.

Day 3 and it’s off to Portsmouth, still dry and getting hotter but that headwind still persists. First climb is up Beachy Head, much talk has made us anxious but it’s not a patch on Gunnislake hill and we all successfully climb to the summit. We head along the coast and through some great scenery before dropping down on to the coastal path and into Brighton. After a break we head on, battling the head winds through Worthing, Bognor Regis, Chichester, Havant and onto the hotel in Portsmouth having completed a 76 mile ride, our longest ever.

Day 4 looms with the knowledge of more hills and an even longer ride in front of us. We assemble at the Yomper statue for the Mayor to send us off. Riding for the first time as one large peleton is a great feeling and we soon increase the speed. After visiting memorials to Royal Marines who took part on the D-Day landings we are led off by the Royal Navy at breakneck speed! It’s now past midday and it’s the hottest day of the year so far! In danger of overheating, we have doubts we can finish the day!

By nightfall, arriving at the campsite near Portland we have done 101 miles on the hottest day of the year, we pat ourselves on the back and have a celebration beer before setting up camp for the night. Thunderstorms threaten and the winds pick up but luckily they pass us by.

Day 5 beckons and it’s damp and drizzly but spirits are high and everyone is confident as the finish line beckons. We decide to set off early and stop for breakfast en-route. The tea-shop owner suggests our route is not ideal for bikes but ignoring the local advice we set of for Chesil beach and the coastal road which is lovely smooth tarmac. Clearly the local advice was inaccurate. Then the road turns into a track and finally it’s covered in shingle and pebbles and pushing or carrying the bikes is the only way forward. Lesson learnt – listen to local knowledge!

As we head onwards down the A35. A steep descent approaches and suddenly the road is awash with a diesel spillage. Three cyclists have fallen on the diesel and an ambulance is in attendance. After an anxious long delay we finally get a message that no one is seriously injured but Chris and Nikki have been taken to hospital for check ups. The group finally arrive and Jacko has some nasty road burns but is determined to finish the ride.

Amazingly we arrive in Exmouth only slightly behind schedule where my parents, sister and wife Liz have assembled to welcome us.

Then onto to Lympstone and the official finish where we all meet up along with the walking wounded and after congratulating each other make our way down the Memorial garden to lay a wreath to all Marines who have died in conflicts. A quick sprint to the hotel in Exeter means we have completed 68 miles today. We all set off for the Blue Ball for a celebratory meal and drinks.

So was it worth it? Well… we raised over £13,000 for a great charity Help our Wounded Royal Marines, we made great new friends, we had a week of great banter and laughter and proved to ourselves we can still stretch the limits of our endurance doing 375 miles even at our ever ripening ages! Bring on next year.

Huge thanks to Chris Falke for organising the event, all the riders: Steve Moir, Dave Jackson, Andy Russell, Ian Bisby, Nikki Fletcher, Chris Duggan, Mat Shields, Mick Price, Alan Davidson and Dave Osborne, Jamie Heywood.

And of course our support Team: Bryan (timber) Wood and Dez Northover and anyone else that helped along the way!

Steve Moir