Biking 6,500 miles for veterans

An army veteran is looking to raise money for charity by riding his motor bike from his Long Sutton home to the Arctic Circle.

Alex Belokon, who will turn 70 in November, is hoping to bike over 6,500 miles to North Cape in Norway, the most northerly road in mainland Europe.

And he’s hoping to raise money for The Veterans Charity on the way.

Alex spent 24 years in the Royal Transport Corps before leaving the service.

He said: “I’ve wanted to do something to help veterans as like many, when I came out of the Army I was destitute, had very little money in my pocket and struggled with mental health.

“I had a heart attack and suffered from depression.

“There’s a few veterans like that and I wanted to help a charity like The Veterans Charity that helps them.”

Father of two and grandad of four Alex is due to take his own motorbike on the trip next July.

He is looking to camp between rides along the scenic route into the Arctic Circle.

He’s looking for sponsors to help pay for petrol but has set up a separate JustGiving page where people can donate directly to The Veterans Charity.

It can be found by searching for Alex’s Norway Big Bike Run on JustGiving.

“I always applied to go to Norway with the Army but was never chosen,” he said when asked as to why he’d chosen to go to North Cape. “And it’s supposed to be incredibly beautiful countryside.

“If I can raise some money to help veterans as well it will be brilliant.”

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