by Jenni Horn

A team of soldiers cycling 500 miles across France, including one on a rickshaw, are making good progress.

Charlie Chaplin, Regimental Sergeant Major of 1 Royal School of Military Engineers in Brompton, is pedalling on the same rickshaw used by The One Show’s Matt Baker.

Charlie is part of Team Sappper, 13 other serving and veteran members of the Royal Engineers who are cycling alongside him, to raise money for Help for Heroes.

The group set off from Chatham to Portsmouth on Saturday, where they met up with the annual Big Battlefield Bike Ride. Their journey has taken them from Caen to Calais, stopping at some of the most important war memorials on the way.

They are due to land in Dover on Saturday morning and arrive back in Chatham in the afternoon.

Steve Craddock, Medway co-ordinator for Help for Heroes is cycling alongside Charlie.

Speaking from France today, the 55-year-old said: "We have been plodding alongside Charlie. He has been doing a tremendous effort. The hills are horrendous but he just keeps going. We stick with him and if the wind is in his face we make sure we stay in front of him to help block the wind.

"Everyone is in good spirits, the atmosphere has been superb."

The team have raised £64,000 so far and hope to reach £100,000, bringing their total over the last three years to £300,000.

Steve added: "I would urge everyone to keep donating. Every single penny raised goes towards helping servicemen and woman who have been severely injured."

To donate text BBBR70 £ followed by the amount to 70070 or visit www.bmycharity.com/teamsapper