A Gurkha whose childhood dream was to fight for the British Army is going to cycle 24 hours straight for his local hospital, after spending 14 days in isolation, fearing that his daughter may have caught the virus.

So far, Squadron Sergeant Major Eka Rai, who is based at the Invicta Park Barracks in Maidstone, has raised £1,500 for the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Charitable Fund.

He will begin peddling tomorrow morning in his home and the money raised will go to Maidstone Hospital and Tunbridge Wells Hospital.

A father-of-two, SSM Rai, 39, who has served in Afghanistan and Iraq, was inspired to get peddling after watching NHS staff battle coronavirus on the news, while stuck at home after his daughter Evani, five, developed flu-like symptoms.

Fortunately, she did not have the virus.

SSM Rai, who leads the 70 Squadron Queens Gurkha Engineers, said: "When you are in the front line against an enemy you can see them and you focus on how to win.

"But in these circumstances, you can't see where the enemy is. That's my perspective as a soldier.

"The bravery NHS staff are showing is fabulous and motivated me to do my part."

His wife, Herma, thought he was crazy when he first mentioned the cycle ride.

"She said 'I don' think you will be able to do that' but when I explained my reasons she accepted it."

This is not the first physical challenge he has taken on, having walked 62 miles from Hampshire to Hastings in 2015 and he is ready for tomorrow's ride.

He believes it is the least he can do for the doctors and nurses putting their lives at risk.

SSM Rai's grandfather, Nau Badadur Rai, served the British Army while in India. As a child he grew up determined to follow grandfather's footsteps and completed his army training in 2001.

"We were very close, I was raised by him. I always wanted to be part of this great tradition," he said.

'The bravery the NHS staff are showing and motivated me to do my part'

Soldiers at Invicta Park Barracks recently joined other military personnel and private contractors to build NHS Nightingale, in London, in a matter of days.

The keen cyclist, who rebuilt homes after the devastating 2015 Nepal earthquake, could not join his comrades as he was self-isolating.

However, he and his squadron are still training, albeit while social distancing, and are ready to help again, when needed.

To support SSM Rai, click here.

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