As I mentioned yesterday, Mrs FM will be taking part in the Help for Heroes Big Battlefield Bike Ride in May of next year to raise money for this most worthy of causes. However as is so oft her want, being just about the most insanely competitive person I have ever met & never one to take the easy path, she will be taking part as a member of Team Marine.

However this plan is further complicated by the fact that her fractured pelvis & elbow suffered on her last escapade are taking long than expected to heal. That doesn’t mean for one moment that she isn’t already in training. As I alluded to at the top of this post, quite quite mad.

However when you read this sort of thing…

The number of British troops wounded in Afghanistan has doubled in a year of brutal fighting with the Taliban. The 'invisible toll' has seen 432 servicemen and women injured so far in 2009 - compared to 235 in all of last year. It means that for every serviceman and woman killed in Helmand in the past 12 months, at least another four have been hurt.

Many soldiers - some still in their teens - have been terribly maimed. They have lost multiple limbs, suffered brain damage or been blinded or deafened. Dozens have survived only because of huge medical advances on the battlefield and the Chinook helicopter crews who evacuate casualties under heavy fire. But they live with the dreadful cost of their bravery every day.

… a few fractures, deep tissue damage to the thigh, a decent level of infection & now a fracture to the collar bone that our world beating NHS has missed for the last 8 weeks, pale into insignificance

Now to those of you that have already offered support, thank you – as soon as I sort out the technicalities & mechanics I will completely brazenly (& regularly) be asking for your money. She is already up to £1,250 but there is still plenty of time to do a lot better. At the moment she is still unable to drive her Land Rover but this morning will be on her training bike, just like yesterday