An Aircraft Engineer who served in the Royal Airforce during the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts will join over one thousand others and cycle 100 miles in one day at Velo Birmingham, in aid of patients at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham. Jonathan Perks, a 42 year-old father of four, spent eight years as a Royal Airforce Engineer, where he was involved in preparing C130 Hercules – the workhorse of the RAF’s Air Transport, responsible for carrying troops, including flying those injured in conflict to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, where the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine is based – for medical evacuations during the war in Afghanistan and Iraq.
He is the latest QEHB Charity entrant to have been bitten by the cycling bug, and has signed up to complete the Velo Birmingham, a 100-mile, closed-road bicycle race that will come to the second city for the first time on Sunday 24 September.
He said: “I took up cycling when I joined my latest job at Monarch in Birmingham. I cycle from Dudley to Birmingham airport – around 20 miles each way – five times a week. I wanted to try Birmingham Velo as a personal challenge because of the distance, and also to give back to the hospital.”
In April 1998, Jonathan suffered a fracture to his back following a collision whilst on technical training at RAF Cosford.
He explained: “I was playing football and challenged for a header when I was hit from behind. As I hit the floor I knew something was wrong. I managed to hobble my way from the football pitch to the medical centre, and the next day was taken to A&E at the old Selly Oak Hospital. I was admitted straight away and moved to the Military unit as I was serving at the time. I spent two weeks there, before another six months of rehabilitation to help my back recover.
“I’m really keen to raise money to support the military unit at QEHB, which does a fantastic job for all injured service personnel, as well as Fisher House, a ‘home away from home’ for the families of ill or injured military troops, based on site of the hospital.”
Mike Hammond, Chief Executive at QEHB Charity, said: “We’re really grateful to Jonathan for signing up to complete the Velo Birmingham to support military patients and their families. We wish him the best of luck for the challenge and look forward to celebrating a successful ride with him on the day!”
Although places for Velo Birmingham have sold out, QEHB Charity has a limited number of Golden Bond places available. To get yours for £40, all you need to do is go to www.bikeforbrum.org to register and pledge to raise £400 in sponsorship.
