John and team on their bikes for huge challenge

An armed forces veteran and ex-firefighter is taking on a mammoth 650-mile bike ride despite not being able to walk.

- SAM VOLPE Reporter

John Chart, 54, has motor neurone disease (MND), but thanks to an adapted cargo bicycle, he is cycling from the Kingston Park home of the Newcastle Falcons rugby union team to 10 other top level rugby stadiums around the UK.

John left Newcastle along with friends as part of the Pilgrim Bandits charity yesterday morning, and will arrive in Exeter in time for their game on May 11.

He and the team will reach the North West to take in a Sale Sharks match this evening.

John was formally diagnosed with MND in 2019. But he first experienced symptoms three years before that.

With the support of prominent MND campaigners including Kevin Sinfield and Ed Slater the latter who also has MND the team are looking forward to an incredible challenge for the charity, which supports those with armed forces or blue light services backgrounds who live with injuries, illness or disability.