Richard Winstanley OBE, former army colonel and current trustee of the veterans’ homelessness charity Alabaré, will cycle from St Paul’s Cathedral in London to Churchfields in Salisbury on Saturday, June 27.

The cycle challenge follows his participation in Alabaré’s Big Sleep event, the first public sleepout to be staged in the gardens of St Paul’s Cathedral.

Richard Winstanley OBE is cycling 140 kilometres in aid of Alabaré. (Image: Alabaré)

Taking place on Friday, June 26, the event aims to raise £200,000 to support veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

The ride is part of his efforts to raise funds and awareness for the charity’s work supporting ex-servicemen and women.

Richard said: “I just thought the sleep-out itself was probably not tough enough.

“There’s a certain connectivity in cycling from St Paul’s back here to Riverside House in Salisbury.

“It’s 140km, and I’ve got a good friend coming with me who’s not doing the BIG Sleep to help keep me awake.

“But it’s just to raise a bit more awareness, and hopefully more funds.”

Richard Winstanley OBE is cycling 140 kilometres in aid of Alabaré. (Image: Alabaré)

Alabaré operates 16 Homes for Veterans across the South West and Wales, offering 90 bedspaces to former military personnel.

Since 2009, the charity has supported more than 2,000 veterans with accommodation, health and wellbeing support, employment guidance, and help toward independent living.

Richard, who has been a trustee of Alabaré since 2023, has already raised more than £8,000.

He said: “St Paul’s Cathedral is iconic. If you ask somebody where St Paul’s is, they will know.

“We’re extremely fortunate to have the Dean allowing us to use it and the garden for this extraordinary sleep out, the night before Armed Forces Day.”

Richard said the issue of veterans’ homelessness remains close to his heart.

He continued: “It’s a great shame that we have anybody who is homeless, for whatever circumstance, particularly veterans who have served our country.

“Nobody wants or chooses to be homeless, and yet they’ve fallen on hard times, and this is our chance to help them, to raise some money and awareness, and to improve their lot.”

The Big Sleep will include an evensong at St Paul’s, a concert beneath the cathedral dome, and personal testimonies from veterans who have been supported by Alabaré.

Alabaré needs to raise at least £1.7m each year to continue its work.

To donate to Richard’s fundraising mission, visit justgiving.com/page/richard-winstanley-2.