News
May 23rd 2018
Derbyshire adult volunteer joins charity ride
From left Lt Mick Gibb, Lt Col Terry Hayter, Major Richard Walton, 2Lt Paul Thomas
An adult volunteer from Derbyshire Army Cadet Force (ACF) joined in the local stage of a National Cycling Challenge earlier this month to raise money for charity.
Second Lieutenant Paul Thomas, the Commander of Ticknall Detachment joined the Army Cadet Force Association (ACFA) Cycle Challenge when it travelled through Derbyshire on 14 May.
The ACFA Cycle Challenge is run in order to raise money for the Matthew Bacon Bursary Fund, which is used to fund an adventurous training course for cadets who need a little more support than others.
Paul explained: “I heard about the Matthew Bacon Bursary Fund money-raiser through my chain of command and being a keen cyclist since my teens jumped on the opportunity to promote awareness of this important ACF fund.
The cyclists on the road.
“Having completed a coast-to-coast ride, I know the determination it takes to spend several days in the saddle, and so I wanted to help Lieutenant Colonel Hayter and Major Walton complete what was one of their longest distances so far: 110 miles.”
The challenge saw a core team of Major Richard Walton and Lieutenant Colonel Terry Hayter cycle the length and breadth of the UK to visit every regional headquarters, with members of local ACFs joining for day rides.
Paul added: “Everyone’s capable of cycling at least a few miles on a bike so we should all get behind next year’s fundraising to ensure the Matthew Bacon Bursary Fund can award a greater number of scholarships to cadets.
“Challenges that are enjoyable and give a sense of achievement align with the ACF’s ethos. After hearing about the Bike Challenge I was inspired to organise my own and so I’ve planned a Company fundraiser for Derbyshire ACF in June.”
Major Matthew Bacon was an Army Cadet who joined the Army in 1988 and was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq in 2005. The fund was started by his father in order to ensure other young people receive the same opportunities he had.
To find out more about joining Derbyshire ACF as an Adult Volunteer or Cadet visit www.armycadets.com
You can find more details about the Matthew Bacon Bursary Fund here: https://armycadets.com/about-us/acf-structure/the-acfa/grants-for-cfavs-and-cadets/mbb/
If you wish to donate to the challenge you can do so here: https://mydonate.bt.com/teams/acf-bike-challenge
“Everyone's capable of cycling at least a few miles on a bike so we should all get behind next year's fundraising to ensure the Matthew Bacon Bursary Fund can award a greater number of scholarships to cadets."
