A group of sailors and Royal Marines from HMS Ocean will not be sailing with the ship from Sunderland back to their home port of Plymouth.
Instead, leaving this Sunday morning, they will cycle the journey covering the 481 miles in 5 days, arriving on the evening of Thursday 31 May as the ship arrives at anchor in Plymouth Sound.
The Rev Jon Backhouse, HMS Ocean’s Padre , said:
“Rather than just a fun outing (at least for people who enjoy that sort of thing!) they have a much more serious aim in mind, raising as much money as they can for the ship’s local Sunderland charity Grace House North East children’s hospice and the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity.
“They have already raised over £1000 but are hoping that that is just the beginning of what they can do to help these worthy causes.”
Despite the difficulties of training whilst in a seagoing warship, the team fitted in a 100 mile ride during HMS Ocean’s recent visit to Hamburg.
Whilst during the eight hours the ship was open to visitors in London, they pedalled on their ‘turbo trainers’ raising visibility of the event and receiving donations of over £500.
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Naval Today Staff , May 28, 2012; Image: Royal Navy