Charity WWI bike ride planned for ABF

August 4th will mark 100 years since Britain went to war with Germany during the early stages of the First World War.

With the centenary of the war's beginnings being marked this year, there are exhibitions, charity events and a variety of acts of remembrance taking place, to name just a few types of event linked to the anniversary.  

One of the things that will be happening on August 4th is the start of a charity bike ride called Wheels on the Western Front for ABF The Soldiers' Charity.

A group of 55 riders will set off on this ride to World War One battlefields on the date, starting their journey in London and going along 500 kilometres of the famous Western Front.

The hope is that the riders will bring in more than £50,000 for the charity.

ABF represents British soldiers and people connected to them as the national charity of the the Army.

It gives its support to soldiers, people who are now veterans and these people's relatives.

Last year alone it gave its help to in excess of 6,000 people, the oldest of whom was 108 and the youngest just a baby.

Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, who is supporting the charity bike ride has called the event "a wonderful way to commemorate the bravery and sacrifice of our Armed Forces."

Riders will start peddling on the early morning of August 4th, beginning their trip at Wellington Barracks and heading to Dover for a trip across the Channel.

Their eventual destination is Compiegne which is where, in 1918, the Armistice was formally agreed.

One person who is going to be taking part in the initial stage of the bike ride is medical expert Dr Dawn Harper from TV's Embarrassing Bodies.

"I’m really proud to be taking part in this challenge, and it’s for a great cause. All the cyclists will certainly be putting their bodies though a great physical effort, but to commemorate those who sacrificed so much during the war, it will be worth it," she said.