Leicestershire veteran, BEM recipient cycling Hadrian’s Wall path for military charity

12 June 2024

Few people have given more of their lives to public service than Ian Trafford. In the spirit of giving back even more, he will be cycling the Hadrian’s Wall Coast to Coast path to raise funds for SSAFA.

Ian served in the Irish Guards as a guardsman, signaller, and medic. At just 19 years of age, he was awarded the Military BEM for saving 27 lives in the IRA Chelsea Barracks bombing in October 1981. Ian’s military service saw him posted around the UK and abroad in Berlin, Munster, Belize, and Cyprus.

Upon leaving the Army in 1989 Ian worked as a police officer, hotel manager, and National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) trainer, and even became a paramedic and ambulance driver for the NHS. He was once again drawn back to military service and joined the Territorial Army’s medical services in 2000 and was deployed in Iraq on Op Telic 2.

Ian has dedicated his life, both in the military and outside of it, to public service and giving back to others. On top of all of his military and career accomplishments Ian also volunteers and fundraises for charities in his local community in Leicester, charities that support refugees, the homeless, health education, and the Armed Forces community.

Ian said this about charity and choosing SSAFA: “I made it my main priority to help the homeless after discovering and supporting these people in getting them help and off the street for the rough sleepers over the years up to 2017. Having fundraised for several charities, it hit me that there is very little available for those serving in the East Midlands. SSAFA was the most important charity for me, in terms of my life and those who need it.”

The Hadrian’s Wall Coast to Coast cycle challenge will take Ian three days, starting on Thursday 13 June. He will cycle more than 250 kilometres and sleep in bed and breakfasts along the route. It is not his first charity challenge by any means, having previously completed the National Three Peaks challenge – twice – among several other challenges for various military and medical charities.

This challenge means something more to Ian: “The Hadrian’s Wall Coast to Coast cycling challenge will be a small introduction to cycling bigger distances each year, and to do it for a charity that is focused on improving the quality of life and safety of the Armed Forces community – this will be a great challenge for SSAFA.”

You can donate to Ian’s JustGiving page here: www.justgiving.com/page/ian-trafford-1697811052497.