Wednesday 11th November 2026
For Carl Jenkins, Regional Manager South East at Pinnacle Service Families, the DIO & Industry Partners Charity Cycle Ride 2026 was about much more than time in the saddle. It was an opportunity to support the Defence community, build connections through a shared challenge and reflect on the sacrifices remembered at the military sites along the route.
Starting on 21st September, Carl joined riders from across the Defence community for the five-day journey from Dunkirk to Waterloo and back. Part of the DIO Giving Back Programme, the challenge raised funds in support of The Veterans’ Foundation, which supports charities and projects helping veterans, serving personnel and their families.
A demanding ride with time to reflect
An experienced cyclist, Carl was prepared for the riding. What he had not anticipated was quite how full each day would be. Early starts, long days on the road and evenings spent getting to know fellow riders made for a rewarding but demanding week. A delayed ferry and a puncture added to the challenge, while the camaraderie within the group became one of his lasting memories.
Beyond the physical effort, it was the visits to military sites that gave the journey its deeper significance. Carl recalled looking across peaceful landscapes near Ypres and considering the suffering those places had witnessed. At a memorial, the columns of names and the young ages of those remembered brought the human cost of conflict into sharp focus.
Those moments offered a pause from the practical demands of reaching the next stop. For Carl, they reinforced the purpose behind the ride: remembering those who had made sacrifices, while supporting a cause connected to today’s Defence community.
Partnership through shared experience
The ride also brought together people who might otherwise meet only through their day-to-day work. Cycling alongside DIO representatives and industry partners created space for conversations and shared experiences that continued beyond the event.
Carl’s reflections centred on the value of taking part, listening and getting to know people naturally. Rather than making the week about promoting a business, it was about contributing to a collective effort. The encouragement to return next year, and the familiar faces he subsequently encountered at the DIO conference, were welcome reminders of the connections formed along the way.
For Pinnacle Service Families, which works alongside the DIO to support Service Family Accommodation and the families who live in it, the cause has a close connection to the community it serves. Carl’s experience offered a personal perspective on that relationship: partnership expressed through participation and a shared purpose.
A huge congratulations to all those who took part. Together, 34 participants from 14 companies covered circa 500km and, with generous support including donations from a total of 32 companies, raised a phenomenal £113,275.
