SOLDIER Ricky Lafford is taking on the gruelling challenge of completing ten marathons in as many days to raise money for two charities.

The 32-year-old serveswith 4 Military Intelligence Battalion, based in Bulford Garrison on the Salisbury Plain.

He will kick-off the challenge on May 2, running 26.2 miles around the Tidworth and Bulford Garrison area.

To complete the 262 miles he will take part in the Sarsen Trail marathon on May 3, the Bewl Water marathon on May 9 and the Stroud marathon on May 10.

On the days between these official marathons he will complete a Tidworth and Bulford Garrison route that he has mapped out.

The final run will start in Marlborough High Street, to mark the connection his battalion has with the town, and will finish in Bulford.

One of the charities Sgt Lafford is raising money for is the Matthew Seren Trust which was set up by his friends, intelligence corps soldiers Paul and Emma Sagar Gray, in memory of their son, Matthew, who died of a degenerative disease in May 2013,

The other is Beating Bowel Cancer on behalf of his friend Michelle Cheshire, a nurse in Telford, who was recently diagnosed with the disease.

In 2011 Sgt Lafford ran seven consecutive marathons and wanted to take his running endeavours one step further.

He said: “I’m somewhat anxious about the event as I'm four years older than when I attempted the seven in seven event and my knees are feeling it.

“Most weekends I will run around 12-18 miles. I am a keen runner anyway but will be slowly building up my training to suit.

“I have run other quirky events such as an 80 lap marathon in a small location in Afghanistan for the Afghan appeal charity.

“Most people believe it's crazy but I see it as ten days out of work.”

To sponsor Sgt Lafford visit www.justgiving.com/Licky-Rafford/ or www.justgiving.com/Licky-Rafford1/