A FORMER soldier with a spinal injury has been thanked by Help for Heroes for hitting the £20,000 mark following two years of intense fundraising.

Veteran Justin Henderson, from Colburn, admits to having hated cycling when he was in the army. But since being given a recumbent tricycle in 2014, he has devoted much of his spare time in the saddle.

When he is not on the road, training for a long-distance ride, Mr Henderson can usually be found pedalling his bike in the foyer of a supermarket with a collecting bucket for donations by his side.

The father of two works as a part-time receptionist at Help for Heroes recovery centre Phoenix House in Catterick Garrison

This week the charity’s director of fundraising, Alistair Lockhart, surprised Mr Henderson with a certificate to mark his dedication.

Mr Lockhart said: “I am a big fan of Justin so I was honoured to meet and thank him personally. Justin is not just a fundraiser, he is a beneficiary who has chosen to do this for the charity in recognition of the support he received - and that is the ultimate endorsement of everything we do."

Mr Henderson was given a recumbent trike in 2014 by a fellow beneficiary to enable him to take part in a cycling tour of regional war memorials – from Seaham to Ripon in six days - organised by Phoenix House. In 2015, he took part in the Catterick to Windsor Hero Ride; the following year he was given a place on the Help for Heroes Big Battlefield Bike Ride.

Injuring his back when lifting an object while stationed in Germany left Mr Henderson with a broken back and limited mobility and he was medically discharged. His fractured L5 vertebra was been replaced with a prosthetic vertebra and has to manage constant pain.

“I struggled to imagine what life beyond the military would entail but Help for Heroes opened many doors for me and that’s why I do what I do. The recognition from the charity came out of the blue and means a lot, but I don’t fundraise for recognition – I do it because I want to,” he said. “Help for Heroes is also about the unsung heroes – those who support us, help us and stick by us. My wife Sam is my rock and my best friend – my hero!”

Mr Henderson is set to take part in this year’s 350-mile Hero Ride from Lille to Arnhem. To sponsor him, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/Justin-Hendersonbbbr17.