This is Dorset --A LOTTERY millionaire from Sherborne will take on a 2,000-mile drive across Europe to raise money for British servicemen wounded at war.
Edd Edwards, 48, a former Territorial Army soldier who won nearly £2 million in 2008, said he wanted to do more than "simply write a cheque" for national charity Help for Heroes.
The charity-minded millionaire has signed up to join this month's Help for Heroes 4x4 European Rally, which started on Saturday.
He will follow in the footsteps of the D-Day heroes by driving his 10-year-old Land Rover along the invasion route used by Allied forces during the Second World War.
He said: "I didn't want it to be a case of me just simply writing them a cheque – I wanted to get involved and do something practical to help.
"Every time I hear of a soldier from my old regiment being maimed or killed, it's like a physical blow to me personally."
The journey will take him and co-driver Pete Harrison through England, France, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg, Austria and Germany – ending at Hitler's former headquarters in Bavaria, Germany.
More than 40 other 4x4 drivers are taking part from all over the UK.
Mr Edwards is hoping to raise up to £4,000 to donate to the charity, which supports servicemen and women who have been injured in conflicts around the world.
He is funding all their travelling and accommodation expenses to ensure the charity benefits in full from their efforts.
Mr Edwards and his wife Michelle won £1,925,567 playing the National Lottery online five years ago.
Mr Edwards, who was recently made redundant from his job as an IT specialist, said: "I can now throw my energies into fundraising for a cause very close to my heart.
"I signed up for the Territorial Army during the Falklands War, so Help for Heroes is personal for me.
"The rally promises to be quite an emotional journey following in the footsteps of all those heroes of yesteryear who were key to the liberation of Europe."
This year's Help for Heroes European Rally started from Littlecote House Hotel in Hungerford, which was the headquarters of the US 101st Airborne Division during the Second World War. Reported by This is 9 hours ago.