In 4 weeks time, a team made up of RN Veterans, serving personnel, military spouses and those who deal with veterans on a day to day basis will set off on a huge 350-mile cycling challenge from RNAS Yeovilton to RNAS Culdrose and back.

The ride is to raise money for The White Ensign Association a Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity.

Leading the charge is 39-year-old Matt Sellick, a navy veteran based in Yeovil.

Matts motivation for the ride came after a regular health check at work where he was found to have blood pressure of 187/117, he had high cholesterol and after blood tests found out my kidneys and liver were in bad shape, 38 years old and at very high risk of a stroke or heart attack.

"I had to change my diet and start some form of physical exercise, I had never ridden more than 5 miles and not regularly or for a very long time. I sit at a desk all day, don't do sport and it takes 5 minutes to walk to work, something had to change," Matt said.

Matt conducted various training courses at Culdrose, was based at Yeovilton in the later part of his career and now works as an Aerospace & Defence Recruitment Expert specialising in the support and placing of Armed Forces Veterans and advising those in transition.

His director (Tony) jokingly suggested helping his health by cycling from Yeovilton to Culdrose and back.

He picked up a second-hand road bike and learnt how to cycle from scratch.

"It has gone from nothing to crazy," Matt started out doing small distances going out once or twice a week averaging just over 22 miles.

He has since cycled 104 miles from Bournemouth and back, Burnham on Sea, Weymouth and recently back to back 100k's in two days.

Matt continued:

"It is only four weeks until the ride now, when I jokingly said I would do it in the office last September it seemed so far away.

"The route we are doing is 355 miles over four days, a Friday to a Sunday. On roadbikes you can't go on motorways, Busy A Roads so the roads you take need to be B Roads at a maximum where you can.

"Day 1 we are doing 108 miles from Yeovilton across to Bude, and then about 80 miles when it gets a bit bumpy down to Helston, Helston to Oakhampton and then Oakhampton to Yeovilton.

"Cornwall is very lumpy and day three the elevation is about 7,000 feet which I have never done before. But that is like the equivalent of cycling up Mount Snowdon twice in a day which is daunting but most of my training has been solo up until recently, so I know when I go out with a team it will make things a little bit easier."

The team will be made up of the following:

Matt Sellick - Ex-Royal Navy.

Tony "Billy" Beaumont - Co-founder of the ride and Associate Director at Morson International

Scott Mitchell - Ex-Royal Navy

Lesley Howe - Ex-Royal Navy

Derek Farr - Ex-Royal Navy

Andrew Roberts - Royal Navy still serving.

Simon Bracher

Support Team:

Rachael Brannagan - Royal Navy Spouse

Leanne Mitchell - Royal Marine Spouse

Dom Hill - Armed Forces Veteran and now Director Employment Services at The White Ensign Association.

Mark Webb - Contracts Manager at Morson Technical Services (Morson Group) - Leonardo Helicopters.

Matt added:

"My target is very high and any money raised for this amazing charity is fantastic, but with the right networking and help in the right areas I am sure we can get as close to this as possible if not surpass it."

The fundraising target has been set at £10,000. You can make a donation by clicking here.