A FORMER soldier seriously injured when a car ploughed into his foot patrol is raising awareness of a charity that helped him overcome the challenges he has faced since.

Jonathan Bell was paralysed from the upper chest, suffered serious head injuries and has had to have one of his feet amputated.

He, along with a number of other soldiers injured in the incident, discovered a love for cycling and have been raising money and awareness of the charity Blesma ever since.

Because of his injuries Jonathan cannot ride a conventional bike, instead using a handbike. In May he and more than 120 riders, mostly Green Howards – now known as the Yorkshire Regiment – together with friends from the Royal Anglian Regiment, will take part in a 100-mile ride known as the Arrow Sportive in Lincolnshire.

Recalling the incident, Jonathan said: “My regiment was part of a large Brigade exercise on Salisbury Plain – we were on a night navigation exercise along with several hundred other troops.

“A civilian car was on the training area and drove into our foot patrol at night, injuring 16 soldiers.

“We had taken all reasonable precautions, lights and markers etc, the driver was found to be drunk, without a full licence, uninsured and the car was defective. It was little short of carnage, 16 young soldiers injured.

“Several of the guys injured were subsequently medically discharged as a result of their injuries. “In the last couple of years we have drifted back together through cycling, and we’ve talked a little bit about what happened that night and how it’s affected us all in different ways.”

Riding a handbike is, as you might expect, different to regular bike.

“The rider pedals with his hands and is recumbent. All the rest is pretty much the same as riding a bike, but crucially it’s your arms not legs and they’ll never be as strong as legs simply because there isn’t the muscle bulk there,” Jonathan said.

“Depending on your level of injury, you have more or less muscle groups available to use. In my case I have only my arms and shoulders, so even breathing is difficult, but we all get round the course. It’s also got me fit again, and of course there isn’t anything better than cycling with your mates from the Army.”

Most of those taking part in the ride are from Teesside, a key recruiting area.

“We have served together and know each other well, and there’s no shortage of banter and humour whenever we get together,” said Jonathan. “I think what’s nice also is that it is just as much a family event, a lot of guys will bring their wives and kids.”

All will be promoting Blesma.

“They have worked hard since the end of the First World War to help veterans lead independent and fulfilling lives,” said Jonathan. “It was Blesma who helped campaign for War pensions for injured soldiers, a major achievement which we all benefit from today.

"I have benefited from the work they do, they encouraged me to take up cycling, and I’ve been on several of their cycling trips and it’s given the confidence and experience to get out on my own.”