Royal British Legion and Actimel gear up for Pedal to Paris

Former England football manager Graham Taylor and the reigning Miss England, Lance Corporal Katrina Hodge, join 300 riders in setting off on The Royal British Legion's Pedal to Paris event. Sponsored by Actimel.

The ride, which starts in Greenwich Park on September 2nd 2010 and finishes in Paris on September 6th, where it is escorted into the French capital by police outriders along the Champs-Elysees, shut especially for the Legion's riders, to the Arc de Triomphe. The only other cycling event that receives this honour is the Tour de France.

The riders include many serving and ex-service men and women who are hoping to raise £500,000 for The Royal British Legion's Battle Back Challenge Centre for injured Service personnel: www.britishlegion.org.uk

The Royal British Legion is the nation's leading Armed Forces charity providing care and support to all members of the British Armed Forces past and present and their families. It is also the national Custodian of Remembrance and safeguards the Military Covenant between the nation and its Armed Forces. It is best known for the annual Poppy Appeal and its emblem, the red poppy. www.britishlegion.org.uk

For the first time this year, the event is being sponsored by Actimel, the probiotic drinking yogurt. Danone has produced several studies on the benefits of probiotics www.studies.danone.com