Prudential today announced that the Invictus Games Foundation, alongside Greenhouse Sports and Teach First are the three chosen charities for the Prudential RideLondon 2016.

As part of the partnership a group of wounded, injured and sick Servicemen, including competitors from the 2014 Invictus Games, will be taking part in this year’s RideLondon-Surrey 100 challenge on the 31st July.

To ensure they are as prepared as possible for the challenge, participants will be provided with training opportunities and be offered practical and tangible support. Prudential will also give them the chance to take part in employability and coaching workshops with a range of business people and athletes.

At today’s launch at the Lee Valley VeloPark on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Sir Bradley Wiggins met riders from three charities and shared his experience of competing in long-distance cycling.

Sir Bradley Wiggins said: “It’s a privilege to meet these riders. Prudential RideLondon has truly inspired tens of thousands to get on a bike and ride. I hope that my career inspires this generation that anything is possible and to aim for the stars. I believe this festival of cycling is the most successful legacy of London 2012 and it’s amazing to see it grow and grow each year.”

Marcus Rees is one of the participants taking part as part of the Invictus Games Foundation. Originally from South Wales Marcus joined the Army in 2003 where he served as an infantry soldier in the Iraq conflict in 2005. He later suffered a compression fracture to his spine which led to him leaving the forces. As time has gone on since leaving the Army he has been diagnosed with PTSD and has been receiving medical help to overcome this.

He says: “I’m really looking forward to being part of a team environment again. I know it will give me the drive and focus I once had while serving in the Armed Forces. I’m not a great cyclist so I’ve got a lot of training to do over the next few months. But that will make the sense of achievement when I cross the finish line in July even better. I can’t wait to get going.”

Mike Wells, Prudential’s Group Chief Executive, said: “I am delighted we are expanding Team Prudential to include these new partnerships with Greenhouse Sports, Teach First and the Invictus Games Foundation. These important partnerships will play a positive role in tackling social exclusion and educational inequality in London and supporting veterans in their rehabilitation. I’d like to wish all the riders the very best of luck and I look forward to being there on July 31 to cheer them on.”

Dominic Reid, Managing Director of the Invictus Games Foundation, said: “We’re thrilled that Prudential has picked the Invictus Games Foundation as one of its chosen charities for Prudential RideLondon 2016. Thanks to Prudential’s support we are able to give even more wounded, injured and sick Service personnel the opportunity to use sport as a vehicle for their recovery and rehabilitation.”

Staged for the first time in August 2013, Prudential RideLondon is the largest festival of cycling in the world, with 100,000 participants expected to cycle more than three million miles during the weekend of 30-31 July 2016. As well as the opportunity to take on a personal challenge, Prudential RideLondon provides significant benefits to good causes, with thousands riding for charity. More than £12 million was raised in 2015, a record for a UK one-day cycling event, bringing the total raised for charity in the first three years of the event to more than £29 million.