A FIFE soldier serving in Iraq has played his part in a tough charity fund-raising event—despite an insurgent mortar attack on his base during the effort.

Wearing flak jacket and combat helmet, Warrant Officer Davie Mitchell and comrades from the Light Infantry completed 2375 miles—the equivalent of Edinburgh to Baghdad—on battered old exercise bikes to help the Hyndhead School in Buckhaven and the Angelman’s syndrome charity ASSERT.

Davie and his regiment are based in Basra, a long way from his home in Leven and wife Elaine and daughters Charlotte (9) and five-year-old Rebeckah, who suffers from Angelman’s syndrome.

Angelman’s syndrome is a rare genetic condition that causes severe learning difficulties.

Since the condition was first identified in 1965 only about 350 people, mostly children and young adults, have been diagnosed in the UK.

Knowing the challenges Rebeckah faces, the big-hearted infantrymen and women decided to help.

The event was thought-up by Davie, Captain Nick Turnbull and fellow WO Darren Jenkins, who are in Iraq as part of the UK’s 20th Armoured Brigade.

At the last minute the bikes used were moved from the gym, where the challenge was originally to be undertaken, to the chapel, which was the only free room with air conditioning.

This meant the 12 cyclists could continue throughout the heat of the day.

The mortar attack was a nuisance rather than a drama, with no one injured but as a precaution the cycling soldiers continued in body armour and helmets for the last hundred miles to complete the challenge in 27 hours and 38 minutes.

“The event went a lot quicker than I expected, we seemed to clock up the miles pretty quickly,” Captain Turnbull said.

“I want to thank everyone who participated for the effort they put in,” WO2 Mitchell said.

“Hopefully events like this will continue to raise awareness of Angelman syndrome and the work that schools like Hyndhead do.”