Junglie Recycling

Personnel from the Commando Helicopter Force (CHF) took time out from their busy operational schedules to help a local charity Hope2Cycle. With aircrew and engineers deployed all over the world from Afghanistan to ships operating in the Mediterranean it is a surprise that they get chance to see their families let alone find time to help out charities. But a dedicated team from CHF based at RNAS Yeovilton did just that this week.

The team rounded up and donated over 60 bikes to the charity. Every year the service police go round the station collecting all abandoned and unused bikes and this year it was decided that they should be put to good use and donated to a worthy cause.

CHF’s head of Police, Master at Arms Bryn Martin said “every year we collect these bikes and sell them back to people on the station, this year we thought that it would be better to help someone outside of the military and give something back to the local community”.

The charity chosen was Hope2Cycle, originally set up in Sherborne it is a charitable community partnership promoting cycling, recycling, health and wellbeing. Set up 3 years ago the charity has extensive experience in supporting people who are socially excluded or recovering from health related problems. As well as providing valuable work experience and training they provide an excellent service in bike sales and maintenance. Due to the success of the Sherborn project they have now extended the charity to include workshops in Shaftesbury and Bournemouth.

On receiving the bikes project leader ex serviceman Mr Gregg Pearson said “Receiving these bikes has been a great help to our charity. After a month of very good sales these bikes will replenish our stock and provide us with lots of spares to allow us to repair some of our other bikes”.

If you wish to find out more about the charity or if you just want to purchase a new bike visit the Hope2cycle website