More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
An 82-year-old has raised thousands for a memorial charity by riding almost 300 kilometres.
Harry Salmon from Tenterden completed a sponsored bike ride from Dieppe to Ouistreham in August this year, raising more than £3,500 for the Normandy Memorial Trust.
The pensioner's sponsorship will go towards an education and visitor centre next to a new monument, being built to commemorate the deaths of those in D-Day and The Battle of Normandy.
Président Emmanuel Macron and then-Prime Minister Theresa May attended the site of the project - overlooking Gold Beach - on its inauguration in June 2019.
An estimated completion date has not been set, but Mr Salmon is eagerly awaiting it.
The Normandy Memorial Trust is close to his heart, as his father will be one of the 22,442 included on the monument.
He noted: “My father, Sgt. Harry Salmon, served in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment and I wanted to show my appreciation, not only for him, but to every single person who was affected by D-Day in 1944.
“There’s no doubt that this was a tough challenge but all the help and support I received really helped me to stay motivated.
"I won’t forget the sacrifices that were made for us and that’s what kept me going during the challenge.
"I’d love to reach my fundraising target of £5,000 and would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who sponsored me so far; it really means a lot.”
A resident at Taylor Wimpey’s Three Fields development in Tenterden, the builder added £500 to the cause.
Jason Stokes, sales and marketing director at Taylor Wimpey South East, said: “We’d like to congratulate Harry on such a wonderful achievement and on raising so much money for such a worthy cause.
"We’re proud to have made a donation and hope that Harry can reach his £5,000 target.”
To donate to Harry's fundraising campaign, click here.
