AN ARMY veteran, who was shot through both legs in Afghanistan, is in training to tackle a gruelling six-day cycle ride across South Africa.

Stephen Docherty, from Billingham, completed tours of duty with the Green Howards in Northern Ireland, Bosnia and Belize before being posted to Afghanistan in 2008 where he was injured so severely that it took two weeks of treatment in an American field hospital before he was judged to be ‘air fit’ to be flown back to the UK.

“I knew my military career was over even then,” he said. “But I was in and out of hospital for years and it was only when my battalion was posted to Cyprus that they decided I was unfit to go and I was medically discharged.”

He is one of four veterans, one of whom will be completing the route on a recumbent bike, selected to join a team from one of Help for Heroes' biggest supporters, PWS – a Newton Aycliffe-based distributor of kitchen components.

They will be cycling a demanding 340 miles on a route across the Western Cape that incorporates 22,000ft of punishing climbs, from April 25 to 30, known as Blood, Sweat and Gears.

Mark Stephenson, director of PWS, set himself a fundraising target of £250,000 for Phoenix House – Help for Heroes northern recovery centre in Catterick Garrison, and devised the plans for the challenge.

Joining the veterans on the ride is former England rugby union player, now Sky Sports commentator, Will Greenwood who visited Phoenix House on Wednesday (April 6).

He said: “I made a programme for Sky called Riding the Dales where I completed stage one of the Tour de France in Yorkshire and the last 30km to Harrogate nearly did me in.

"I am hoping that cycling in a group in the sunshine will make all my training worthwhile."

To support Mr Docherty by donating to the Blood, Sweat & Gears fund for Help for Heroes https://www.justgiving.com/stephen-Docherty7.