The 27-year-old from Birmingham lost his left arm in 2007 in an insurgent rocket attack when serving as a senior aircraftman weapons technician with the Royal Air Force at Basra Airbase in Iraq.

Butterworth went on to triumph over adversity, taking three Paralympic silver medals at London 2012 and he has thrown his full support behind the 2013 Hero Ride, which is aiming to raise more than £2 million ($3.2 million/€2.5 million) for Help for Heroes.

The funding will provide support for those who have suffered and survived injuries in recent conflicts and their families.

"I've seen first-hand how funding raised for Help for Heroes can change people's lives and Hero Ride provides an opportunity for the British public to get behind our troops while also challenging themselves to do something different," Butterworth told insidethegames.

"Despite the landscape changing for our troops as we withdraw from Afghanistan, the support for this great cause cannot stop.

"It would be a fantastic show of solidarity for as many people as possible to get involved with Hero Ride, whether they are participating, fundraising or lining the streets of London in June."

Butterworth helped launch the 2013 Hero Ride alongside fellow Help for Heroes Ambassadors Lorraine Kelly, the well-known television presenter, and Peta Todd, the fiancé of former world cyclig champion Mark Cavendish.

Four "Band of Brothers" wounded veterans also helped launch the 2013 Hero Ride.


The ride itself will take place on June 2 and will see cyclists from across the country staging fundraising bike rides before meeting en masse in Blackheath to ride together into central London.

Led by 100 servicemen, women and veterans, Hero Ride will be the biggest cycling demonstration of national support for the wounded the United Kingdom has ever seen and the British public are encouraged sign up to be part of the event.

"Hero Ride gives everyone the opportunity to truly get behind Help for Heroes which is supporting individuals who have given so much for their country," Kelly explained.

"I would encourage everyone, whether you are a mum of young kids who hasn't been on her bike for ten years, an avid cyclist or someone who has the self-motivation to apply themselves to a challenge, take part in Hero Ride."

The Hero Ride fundraiser will bring thousands of supporters to The Mall while the ride itself will take in some of London's most iconic landmarks including the Cenotaph and Buckingham Palace before culminating here at Horse Guards Parade.

"Hero Ride gives everyone the opportunity to get involved with an incredible charity and the beauty of this challenge is that you can set the boundaries, whether you can manage 10 miles or 100 miles on the ride to Blackheath, Hero Ride is for everyone," Todd said.

"I would just say brush off your bike and get involved, it will be a once in a lifetime experience that you can get your friends involved with and be immensely proud of yourself at the finish line."

People are being encouraged to sign up to Self-Organised Hero Rides, where cyclists from any ability and age form fundraising rides to reach Blackheath on June 2 to join with 900 other riders in the finale.

The distances cycled and amounts raised are the responsibility of the ride organisers.

On June 2, a further 250 riders will take part in Dawn Raid, which is a tougher challenge for the serious, sporting rider.

These cyclists will cycle from Tedworth House in Wiltshire to Blackheath, which is a distance of over 150 miles.

For members of the public not wishing or able to cycle, they are encouraged to line the streets of The Mall and cheer on the riders to help in fundraising on the day.

To find out how to get involved in Hero Ride, to sign up or donate, click here. 

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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December 2012: Cavendish and Butterworth pledge support for 2013 Hero Ride
November 2012: Prime Minister calls for British public to support Armed Forces in 2013 Hero Ride