'When I'm cycling, I feel free' - Gurkha veteran

Former Gurkhas Vinod Budhathoki and Tirthraj Thapa are set to cycle from Aylesford to Ypres

"When I'm cycling, I don't feel disabled," says former Gurkha Vinod Budhathoki. "I'm still free to do lots of things... Just the way is different."

The 39-year-old from Nepal, who now lives in Maidstone, took up hand cycling a year after he lost both legs in an IED explosion in Afghanistan in May 2010.

Now, the veteran, who served in the 1st Royal Gurkha Rifles from 2005, will take on his biggest cycling challenge to date.

Alongside lifelong friend and Gurkha colleague Tirthraj Thapa, he will cycle from Aylesford in Kent to Ypres in Belgium to raise money for veterans' charity RBLI - Royal British Legion Industries.

"They are one of the charities who help injured soldiers a lot," he said, adding that the ride would mean he was "helping charity and having a good reason to do tougher cycling".

A group of 30 cyclists will set off on the RBLI's annual cycle on Friday morning, heading from Aylesford to Dover, on a 58-mile (93km) route.

On Saturday they will take a ferry to Dunkirk, from where they will then cycle 56 miles (90km) to Ypres.

Mr Budhathoki, who runs his own property business, competed in the Invictus Games in 2014 in cycling and sitting volleyball.

Vinod and Tirthraj grew up together in Nepal and followed in their family's tradition to become Gurkhas

"I haven't done this kind of long ride before... This time it's going to be a little bit more challenging," he said.

Mr Thapa, 39, who also lives in Maidstone, lost his leg above the knee after being wounded by an IED in Afghanistan a day after Mr Budhathoki in 2010 and now uses a prosthetic.

He has taken part in the annual cycle four times and describes it as "very challenging".

"My first ride was the toughest one, as I didn't think it was achievable, but hard training and dedication really helped me get through," he said. "Once I got confident, I asked Vinod [to take part]."

The pair, who were in the same regiment, have been training together for this year's challenge.