CYCLING Royal Engineer Ali Bartlam has tackled one last big challenge before retiring by raising £800 for a children’s hospice.

The Lieutenant Colonel from Royal Wootton Bassett teamed up with four mates to pedal all the way from John O’Groats to Land’s End in the space of nine days.

Ali, 54, who has four grandchildren was raising money for Julia’s House.

He said: It’s a charity you hope you would never need to use, but none of us know what’s around the corner.”

A former marathon runner and keen mountain climber, he wanted a challenge that would be a fitting end to his 35-year career in the military, but he only discovered cycling a couple of years ago.

After reading about Julia’s House, he decided that he wanted to help fundraise to support sick children and their families from all over Wiltshire.

So he and his friends set out on an epic 874-mile slog to raise money for their own good causes as well as military families charity SSAFA.

.Ali is going to enjoy a few months relaxing with his family and enjoying his retirement, but he is already planning to take part in another challenge next summer and has lots of ideas.

Julia’s House is the only children’s hospice in Wiltshire. AS well as providing respite care for children with life-limiting conditions, it also runs events for affected families.

It receives just five per cent of its total annual funding from the government and relies on donations and legacies for the rest of its income.

Our sister paper the Wiltshire Gazette and Herald is currently marking its 200th anniversary with an appeal to raise £100,000 for the hospice.

Visit juliashouse.org for more information.