He has confirmed he will join 2,000 cyclists and ride alongside British wounded heroes for the Hero Ride 2014 Grand Finale.
Hero Ride 2014 is a series of cycling challenges taking place in early June, which will culminate in all riders meeting at Blackheath on Sunday 08 June to ride the final ten miles into Horse Guards Parade as the biggest cycling show of support for our wounded the country will have ever seen.
Winner of 25 Tour De France stages, Cavendish will have the honour, as the lead Hero Ride Ambassador, of starting the cyclists off on their final ten miles and will join them on the route which pauses at the Cenotaph on Whitehall for the wounded servicemen and women who are riding to lay wreaths in memory of fallen and injured heroes.
Mark's wife Peta is taking on her own epic Hero Ride challenge, which will see her take part in her third ride for Help for Heroes, this time cycling 335 miles from Brussels to Paris in the Big Battlefield Bike Ride before returning to London for the final ten miles with her husband.
With 10,535 British men and women injured in the recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan and Combat Stress estimating that 40,000 Servicemen and women will suffer from some form of invisible injury over the coming years, Help for Heroes have stressed the importance of the £1.5 million fundraising target for 2014.
The funds raised by Hero Ride 2014 will help the Charity continue to deliver direct support to Service Personnel and Veterans who have suffered life-changing injuries and illnesses.
Help for Heroes needs to deliver two key new projects this year; the Hidden Wounds Psychological Wellbeing Programme and an expansion of the Northern Help for Heroes Recovery Centre in Catterick. Both projects will be instrumental in the long term support of individuals and their families.
H4H Patron Mark Cavendish said, "The Hero Ride is an amazing opportunity to cycle alongside our wounded men and women and to hear their inspirational stories.
"I've seen how Help for Heroes supports them and their families and in 2014 that support is going to be more important than ever. I'd urge anyone who has ever thought about doing something life-changing or challenging to do their bit and sign-up and donate to the Hero Ride.
"I am truly honoured to be starting the Grand Finale and it will be very emotional for me as I reunite with Peta who is attempting a gruelling 335 miles and I will be so proud to cycle alongside her and 2,000 others into Horse Guards Parade on the 8th June.
"The great thing about Hero Ride is that you can choose to do your own 'DIY' Hero Ride and cycle whatever distance suits you - be that five miles or 500. Anyone can get involved and I hope as many people as possible sign up to Hero Ride, donate to Help for Heroes and come down and join us in London on what will be an incredibly memorable day."
As well as asking participants to organise DIY routes, Hero Ride 2014 will see organised routes including the Big Battlefield Bike Ride, plus rides from Edinburgh, Manchester, Cardiff and the Help for Heroes Recovery Centre at Tedworth House, Tidworth. All rides will come together on Sunday 08 June for the Grand Finale.
H4H Patron Peta Cavendish is taking part in the Big Battlefield Bike Ride for the third time and said, "Both Mark and I are so proud to be Patrons for Help for Heroes and we will be heavily involved in supporting Hero Ride 2014.
"This will be a bold challenge for me - I usually leave the cycling to Mark - but I cannot wait to show my support to those amazingly courageous servicemen and women and look forward to seeing the British public in their droves in London once again on 08 June."
Help For HeroesIn 2014 UK troops will withdraw from Afghanistan and it is essential that support continues for those who have suffered life-changing injury or illness.
Bryn Parry, Co-Founder of Help for Heroes, said, "Troops may be withdrawing from Afghanistan but our support will be there for those who are injured and their families, for life. Our ambition is for Hero Ride 2014 to be bigger and better than ever before and I would like to see the British public continue with their generosity for our heroes. Cycle with us, donate to our good cause and show your support with pride."
Chain Reaction Cycles is the official retail partner for Hero Ride 2014. With core values of excellent service and products as well as a huge passion for sport they are sure to make the event even more amazing.
To sign up to Hero Ride 2014 or donate go to the Hero Ride website.
