An RAF officer recovering from a back operation will cycle from the London Eye to the Brighton seafront to raise money for charity.

Darren Jones, a corporal in the RAF, hopes to raise £200 for Jewish charity Norwood, which is based in Stanmore Broadway but has various centres across Barnet, including Buckets and Spades in Fairholme Gardens, Finchley.

He also hopes to raise money for The Down’s Syndrome Association during the Capital to Coast Challenge.

Mr Jones popped a disc in his back during training and had to have an operation to fuse the vertebrae in his back.

He said: “Cycling is my sport, it’s what I enjoy. The surgery meant I was off work for a long time - I couldn’t even walk.

“I spoke to my doctors and rehab instructors, and they said that as long as I don’t push myself too far, I’d be able to do Capital to Coast.”

“A couple of months ago, I was able to get back on a spinning bike, and that’s gone really well, so they said I could get back on a road bike.”

“It’s given me something to work towards, not just physically but mentally too. Getting back on a bike is a huge bonus. It’s a challenge and it’s for a really good cause."