A MAN who used to live on the streets of Bridport and took on a three-year cycle mission around the UK is setting off to do it all over again.
Veteran Allen "Tiny" Stokes is cycling the along the coast again, aiming to raise £30,000 to create a PTSD retreat for veterans and blue light services in Wales.
A French Foreign Legion veteran, Tiny, as he is affectionately known, suffered complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) following his service and became homeless for 18 years.
During that time he lived on the streets of Dorchester and Bridport for more than a year.
In 2023, he finished a mammoth journey around the coast of Great Britain and has been itching to get going once again.
This time he will not be alone and will be joined by his dog Rocco on the trip
Mr Stokes said: "Rocco was given to me by a homeless veteran who just couldn't look after him anymore.
"We will be starting at Bridport Kitchen, probably on the first week of September and we will finish there about three years later.
"Last time I took a huge trailer with me, which weighed half a ton by the end, so hopefully something a bit lighter this time.
"I want to raise £30,000 to buy some land in Wales as a place to lift veterans off the streets, for everybody who has PTSD.
"I have done 20 years on the streets myself and it is time to do a second journey."
Mr Stokes provides updates on his journey on a Facebook Group - which is called Ride to Recovery.
He has some quirky ideas about how to stand out and let others know about his fundraising mission.
Initially, this included taking a chicken as his companion.
He added: "I was originally going to take a chicken with me, just as something to stand out, but now I have Rocco he is coming instead.
"I am doing it on a ladies tricycle to start with and I will be wearing a kilt and some flags.
"I just want to try and be different and I want as many people noticing me as I can get."
To follow his journey, got to gofundme.com and search for 'Supporting our Veterans and Blue Light Family fight PTSD', or click the link here.
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