ON YOUR BIKE!” – LOCAL AM MIKE HEDGES SUPPORTS REMEMBRANCE IN SECOND ANNUAL POPPY RIDE IN WALES

Today (Tuesday 24^th October) local AM Mike Hedges  joined the Wales Area manager of The Royal British Legion, Veterans, Serving personnel and other Assembly Members to race against the clock on an exercise bike to mark the Remembrance period in Wales and commemorate the Battle of Passchendaele 100 years ago.

The 6 hour bike ride was held in the Welsh Assembly’s Senedd building, aiming to mark this very special year for Remembrance in Wales.  Mike Hedges represented his local constituency by cycling as far as he/she could in 5 minutes, with the hope of topping the leaderboard. Mike Hedges managed to cycle 800m in 5 mins

The bike ride was organised by The Royal British Legion in Wales and builds on the successful bike ride held in the National Assembly in 2016.

Members of Parliament will also undertake the same challenge next week along with members of the Scottish Parliament.

The target of 300 miles was achieved just after 3pm after over 6 hours of pedaling from everyone involved. The bikes were kindly donated by Pure Gym Cardiff with over 70 people taking part overall. The leading Assembly members on the day, cycling the greatest distance in 5 minutes, were Lee Waters AM and Hannah Blythyn AM.

Mikesaid:

“I would like to thank the Royal British Legion in Wales for arranging this event. The Royal British Legion provides invaluable support to the Armed Forces community; I am pleased to have been able to support such a worthy cause’.

Wales Area manager Ant Metcalfe said:

‘We were delighted to welcome Mike Hedges AM, to our annual Poppy Ride in Wales. This event is a different, way of marking the Remembrance period alongside all of the other vital local and national events the Legion is involved with at this time. 2017 marks the centenary of the Battle of Passchendaele and we hope this event has brought us all together to remember and also raise awareness of those who continue to requires the Legion’s support today. Over 70 people participated on the day including Serving personnel from the Royal Navy along with Legion beneficiaries and members. It is always a real team effort and we were delighted to be able to work with the Assembly to host this once again’.

Notes to Editors:

The Royal British Legion’s work is encapsulated in its motto: Live On – to the memory of the fallen and the future of the living. The Legion is the nation’s biggest Armed Forces charity providing care and support to all members of the British Armed Forces past and present and their families. It is the national custodian of Remembrance and safeguards the Military Covenant between the nation and its Armed Forces. It is well known for the annual Poppy Appeal, and its emblem the red poppy. www.britishlegion.org.uk