A Daventry couple launched a 16-month charity campaign with a 12-hour cycle challenge on Sunday.
Georgina Brander and Wesley Brammer cycled 272 and 270 miles respectively at Daventry Leisure Centre.
It marked the first in a series of events planned for the coming months in aid of Help For Heroes, culminating in a trek across the Sahara in 2015.
Former soldier Mr Brammer, 29, said: “I came out of the RAF in September and was looking with Georgina at challenges we could do for Help for Heroes. We saw the Trek the Sahara one and said how cool it would be to do that.
“We decided to do it in 2015 as that gives us plenty of time to raise awareness and funds for the charity. We want to do a series of challenges every month or six weeks, not small ones, something big that people would say ‘wow’ about.”
The pair’s first event took place on Sunday in the foyer of Daventry Leisure Centre.
Mr Brammer said: “I’m a member of the Everyone Active gym at the leisure centre.
“They agreed for us to do it there using gym bikes and it would tie in with the Sport Relief Mile on that day too.
“The last hour was the worst for me. I had shoes on that weren’t really designed for those bikes and they allowed my feet to twist slightly.
“I wanted to show people what the human body is capable of. Georgina did only about an hour and a half practice beforehand. We cycled almost the equivalent of half the distance from Lands End to John O’Groats.
“Without Georgina it wouldn’t be happening. She’s set up the website, Facebook, and more, and if it wasn’t for her encouragement and her pushing forward with it, I don’t think it’d be happening!”
The couple, from Mayfield Drive, would like to invite donations to: www.justgiving.com/thelongwalk2015, www.facebook.com/thelongwalk2015, or on Twitter @H4HTheLongWalk.