A FORMER Special Forces soldier who was injured while serving overseas is getting ready to take on the French Pyrenees for an armed forces charity.

Duncan Forbes will get on his bike and pedal 450 miles, climbing 36,000ft of hill and mountain along the way, as he makes his way from the Atlantic Coast to the Mediterranean.

The 43-year-old was injured in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion in 2010 and aims to cover the distance in just seven days in aid of Poppyscotland.

Duncan was commanding a vehicle and leading a large vehicle convoy of elite Special Forces soldiers when the IED exploded under the wheels.

Bound by a confidentiality contract which prevents him from revealing where he was deployed, he said: “By the time I realised where I was my fellow soldiers had already selflessly run through what was potentially further mined territory to come to my assistance.

“Although the ligaments in my knee were severely damaged and I had sustained several broken bones and a shrapnel wound, the physical injuries myself and the other two lads on the vehicle sustained healed over the subsequent months.

“We were all extremely lucky that night.

“Many others were not so lucky; many lost limbs and a great number of families lost husbands, fathers and brothers.”

Duncan, who lives near Haddington, is no longer in the armed forces but works full-time – and is studying towards a masters degree at St Andrews University.

However, he emphasised the difficulties many veterans experience when attempting to secure employment in the civilian job market.

He said: “Veterans have achieved great feats under the most difficult circumstances.

“Many of the most impressive people who I served alongside came from very humble backgrounds and often with virtually no education qualifications.

“They flourished in that environment by employing a proactive intelligent ‘make it happen’ attitude, particularly when they had a distinct goal in mind.

“Perhaps you would call it entrepreneurial if this was taking place in a commercial environment.

“There is an immense pool of talent out there and I just hope employers are aware of this and are prepared to consider the benefits of employing veterans.”

Duncan will not be undertaking this seven-day challenge on his own.

He will be accompanied by a group of veterans, some of whom have injuries so severe that they will tackle this already-difficult task on hand bikes.

The trip, which sets off on September 13, has been organised by 65 Degrees North, an organisation that funds trips for veterans in rehabilitation.

Gordon Michie, head of fundraising at Poppyscotland, said: “As an organisation, we are acutely aware that many veterans do not settle as well when returning to civilian life and this is where some of the Poppyscotland services come to the fore.

“We are there to support those in transition from military to civilian life.

“However, that support can only be given if we can continue to raise vital funds to support our ongoing work.

“The challenge that Duncan is undertaking is gruelling in many ways.

“It’s not just the physical element but also the challenge that he has set himself to raise as much money for our vital work.

“As a veteran myself, I commend him for his incredible efforts on our behalf.”

To support Duncan, go to just giving.com/fundraising/duncan-forbes4