Hollywood actor's video message for Ben Parkinson on 1,000 mile bike ride

The Oscar winning star recorded a short video message and said: “I take my hat off to you raising money for this extraordinary cause. I send all my regards and the greatest amount of respect. Good luck getting to the end.

"The idea of cycling a couple of miles is enough to make me want to go and have a nap.”

The message was sent to John Chart, a fellow veteran and one of Ben’s team members who is taking part in the gruelling bike ride to raise awareness about Motor Neurone Disease.

L/Bombardier Ben - who suffered brain damage and lost both legs in a blast in Afghanistan - and the Pilgrrim Bandits team are already five days into the marathon trek.

Ben, 36, is taking on the challenge to help Pilgrim Bandits member, John, 49, a veteran and former firefighter who was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in July 2019.

John said: “MND is a demonic disease. It is like an assassin; it sneaks up on you and it’s like someone’s got a remote control and it’s just closing my body down gradually. I want to raise awareness, I want to see the devastation of what it does to you, but I also want to say to people don’t ever give up. You’ve got to keep going. Don’t ever give up.”