Ex-soldier plans £100k marathon feat for Help for Heroes

An ex-soldier wants to show his support for the armed forces by taking on a gruelling challenge aiming to raise £100,000 for Help for Heroes.

Simon Buckden has already begun his mission to complete 100 marathons in 100 weeks, the Evening Chronicle reports.

It will continue until 2013, at which point the ex-serviceman will have covered approximately 2,600 miles.

He comments: "I eat almost anything that moves. I weigh over 15 stone and am six foot two. I just steamroll through the marathons."

Mr Buckden had not carried out any training and he admits his diet is on the unhealthy side, but that hasn't stopped him finishing 22 runs so far.

He suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, which has impacted many areas of his life and he regularly experiences flashbacks from his time in the Army.

The 39-year-old's Help for Heroes fundraising page explains the marathons will either be at official events, on measured courses around the country's parks and on treadmills at designated gyms.

Posted by Samantha Thompson