A FORMER Royal Marine and Special Forces veteran rode through Okehampton on Tuesday on a Land's End to John O'Groats cycle challenge — on a 1940s butcher's bike. Nigel Thomas is riding the single-gear, 1940s butcher's bike 1,027 miles as part of his campaign to raise £1-million for the charities Team Army, Hire a Hero and Walk on Wales and the good works of the Ray Gravell Trust – causes very dear to his heart.  In true military style, Thomas is carrying his tent and provisions in the front of the former Co-operative Society bike and will camp overnight in fields and lay-bys.  Nigel said: 'We all rely upon our soldiers to be there when we need them, so I'm doing this for all the boys and girls in the forces who need our help now – a chance to play the sports that are so vital to their physical and mental wellbeing, to find a job after leaving the military or perhaps help recovering from injury or illness.'  TV presenter Bear Grylls, a friend of Nigel's, said: 'This is going to be a tough challenge but that's Nigel through and through — determined to help those who most need it and to do it the hard way, and with a smile to the world.' Nigel can tracked along his route via http://www.butchersbikechallenge.org.uk">www.butchersbikechallenge.org.uk You can donate via http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ButchersBikeChallenge">http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ButchersBikeChallenge or text TBBC14 with the amount you would like to donate.