North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson handing over £100,000 charity trek cash
More than £100,000 is set to be handed out to charitable causes by Environment Secretary MP Owen Paterson and his wife Rose.
They raised the money during a 1,000km ride across the wilderness of the Mongolian steppe.
The north Shropshire MP will visit the 1st Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment at Tern Hill, near Market Drayton on Sunday to present a cheque for £53,100.
It will go towards the Royal Irish Regiment Benevolent Fund which provides assistance to serving and former members of the regiment and their families.
The cheque will be presented to the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Ivor Gardiner (CORR), prior to the battalion family Christmas carols and Christingle service at 4pm at Tern Hill.
Mr and Mrs Paterson will also donate £53,100 to the Midland Centre for Spinal Injuries on December 24.
Mr Paterson completed the Mongol Derby ride with Rose last year.
He said: "We were overwhelmed by the generosity of people on both sides of the Irish Sea in support of our completely batty adventure, which was an entirely unsuitable undertaking for two people aged 55.
"We are extremely glad it's over and delighted to be able to have helped in a small way the Royal Irish Regiment, which is based in my constituency of north Shropshire."
The cheque for the Royal Irish Regiment will be received on behalf of the benevolent fund by the regiment currently undergoing pre-deployment training for a fourth deployment to Afghanistan.
Lieutenant Colonel Gardiner said: "Mr Paterson has been a great supporter of the battalion and the armed forces as a whole.
"Whilst no longer representing NI, he remains MP for north Shropshire and we remain his constituents.
"The challenge he and his wife Rose undertook is awe inspiring.
"We, along with our trustees and colleagues in the 2nd Battalion, are extremely grateful for the extraordinary donation being made."
By James Pugh
