AN OCTOGENARIAN celebrated his birthday by taking on a fiveday cycle charity challenge.
Eric Ayling celebrated turning 81 with the bike ride challenge to help raise more than £800 for Help for Heroes.
Mr Ayling took on the 45-hour fundraiser by cycling on a static bike for eight hours every day at Tidworth Leisure Centre from Monday, September 26.
He formerly served in the Royal Air Force in the 1950s and says: “Help for Heroes is a great charity, it’s great to see soldiers getting that extra help, and being able to support people that have been injured and that are struggling.
“Help for Heroes popped along to come and support me and to help me raise money – it’s great.
“My friends and family came too and even some of the local soldiers joined me on the challenge to get on the bikes for a few hours.”
Mr Ayling trained for months by using an exercise bike at the gym, going for bike rides cross-country and has been lifting weights to make sure he had all the strength he needed for the challenge.
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