A CYCLING marathon will raise money for wounded soldiers when March mum Debbie Smith joins a 350-mile charity bike ride from Paris to London.

Debbie is among 200 cyclists taking part in the Big Battlefield Bike Ride raising money for Help For Heroes.

Setting off from Paris on Bank Holiday Sunday, the seven-day event ends with a grand procession through London where a further two thousands cyclists will join the marathon bikers for a mass parade to the Cenotaph where wreaths will be laid for fallen soldiers.

Some of those taking part will be wounded soldiers.

Debbie, 35, Cambridgeshire co-ordinator for Help for Heroes, said: “It’s a fabulous charity doing really valuable work for injured soldiers and their families.

“I’m a bit worried about my fitness levels but I’m hoping the camaraderie will get me through.”

Debbie’s last marathon effort was 18 months ago when she took part in a 42km run from Nice to Cannes carrying a full army backpack belonging to a soldier who had lost his legs in Afghanistan.

The run was exhausting, she said, and left her feeling burnt her out, but she is ready to pull out the stops again to fund raise with the latest epic cycle run.

“Loads of people applied to take part in this race. It is a real honour to have been picked,” she said.