North-east Invictus Games athlete set to take on cycle challenge for veterans charity
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A north-east veteran of the Royal Signals – who was recently selected to represent the UK at the upcoming Invictus Games – will ramp up his preparations by participating in the Etape Loch Ness cycling event to raise funds for Erskine Veterans Charity.
David Jarvis, who served in the military as a staff sergeant for 21 years, was born in Nuneaton before moving to Stuartfield and attending Mintlaw Academy. He now lives in Aberchirder.
Upon leaving school, he joined the Territorial Army prior to joining the Forces full-time.
The 40-year-old was deployed several times throughout his career including three tours of Afghanistan, as well as Pakistan and Bahrain.
David started cycling in 2015, initially as a means to get to work after being downgraded due to knee issues.
However, he soon became passionate about the sport and eventually won his first race in 2017.
In 2020, following a serious accident during one of the events where he was knocked off his bicycle, David sustained trauma to his ribs, shoulders, back and the right side of his body.
He was eventually medically discharged in 2022 as a result of the injuries sustained in the accident and he shifted his focus to charity work.
Since then, he has participated in a number of fundraising efforts, including cycling 100km per day throughout June 2020, totalling over 3000km, as part of a wider team that collectively managed to raise £100,000 for the Royal Signals Charity.
This year David wanted to take things a step further by going the extra mile, having been to the Erskine Edinburgh Home during his own recovery and resettlement.
David said: "Erskine's Veterans Charity has been providing invaluable support to the veteran community in Scotland for many years.
"As a former soldier, I know how important it is to have that support network, and I want to do my part to ensure that the charity can continue to provide this support.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to give back to the veteran community by cycling for Erskine's Veterans Charity.
"I hope to raise awareness and funds for the charity, and I look forward to completing the Etape Loch Ness cycling event."
The Etape Loch Ness, which will be held on Sunday, April 23, is a cycle event around iconic Loch Ness offering the chance to cycle 66 miles on a 360° closed-road route around the loch, offering 900m of ascent.
The King of the Mountain stage is a 4.8-mile climb gaining 380m in height with a gradient reaching 12 per cent.
Being secleted for the 2023 Invictus Games has also given him another goal to aim for, and he is excited to represent the country in the upcoming event.
The international event will be held in the German city of Dusseldorf from September 9 to 16.
He added: "I am thrilled to be representing the UK in the Invictus Games. I’m so proud to have been chosen.
"Cycling is my main target but I’m also going to try and have a go at indoor rowing and swimming.
"Since the accident four years ago, I haven’t tried any other sports for fear of aggravating my injuries, however, at the pre-selection camps last year I had the opportunity to try different sports with the appropriate support and this gave me the confidence to test my limits again.”
Wing Commander Ian Cumming MBE, chief executive of Erskine Veterans Charity, said: “We were delighted to hear of David’s selection for the upcoming Invictus Games.
"It is a just reward for the work that he puts in and the cycling talent that he displays.
"We are honoured that he has chosen Erskine for his fundraising exploits and look forward to supporting him throughout the year.”
