WHILE you are sipping tea and eating cake at your virtual VE Day party, spare a thought for Ged Beaumont.

For there will be no victory celebrations today for this indefatigable charity fundraiser from Magor - at least not until he has completed a 12-hour bike ride in his garden, complete with six feet long Lancaster bomber fancy dress.

But behind the homemade, war-themed outfit, and its boards, glue, paper, paint, and what appear to be a pair of plastic salad bowls, is a serious cause.

Mr Beaumont, 60, has already helped raise more than £3,000 for disability charity Leonard Cheshire ahead of today's ride, and every penny he makes will go towards the charity's work in combating loneliness and isolation among disabled people in Wales during lockdown.

The unusual outfit is a nod to the charity’s founder, RAF war hero Leonard Cheshire, who served on Lancaster bombers during the Second World War.

Mr Beaumont's wife Julie, who works for Leonard Cheshire's Wales team, helped her husband built his outfit, and said of today's ride: “He can’t help himself. He just wants to make a difference.

"He saw Captain Tom (Moore) take to his garden, and his brain started working overtime. I’m so proud of him.”

Mr Beaumont's motivation is those who depend who the work of Leonard Cheshire staff, and the staff themselves.

“It’s for the residents more than anything. You see how busy and motivated the staff are, the carers and nurses, and it’s just my way of helping," he said.

"I know Leonard Cheshire would be so proud of his legacy in Wales.”

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Emma Wilcox, fundraising manager for Leonard Cheshire in Wales, calls Mr and Mrs Beaumont "a formidable team", with good reason - for the couple are no strangers to fundraising, having raised more than £27,000 for Leonard Cheshire’s Tour de Cymru cycling project in 2017.

"We are all so proud of them. They never fail to bring joy to others," said Ms Wilcox.

"Whether it’s baking cookies for staff or driving across Wales to deliver much needed PPE to the front line, they are true heroes. This latest adventure is typical of the effort they put into fundraising, 100 per cent original and 100 per cent fun.”

Glyn Meredith, director of Leonard Cheshire Wales, said that like most charities, its income is down and operating costs are up.

"The people we care for need the support of their communities more than ever," he said.

"It’s a scary time for residents. They aren’t seeing loved ones, carers are wearing masks and they aren’t getting out of the services.”

To support Mr Beaumont and Leonard Cheshire Cymru, or to set up your own fundraiser, visit www.justgiving.com/campaign/leonardcheshirecymru