9:09pm Monday 17th March 2008
By Cherry Thomas
TWO Bolton soldiers, who are stationed in Iraq, are training to run the London Marathon.
Corporal Damien Byrne and Sergeant Major Stephen Tickle will join other members of the 1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster regiment in returning to the UK to compete in the race on April 13.
The group has been serving in Iraq since November and it had been hoped that they would be home in time for the marathon, but they are now due back in May.
The soldiers will return to the UK just to run the 26.2 mile race before heading back to their base in Basra and the Bolton men are among those rising to the challenge.
Corp Byrne, of Halliwell, said: "It's something I've never done before so I thought I'd give it a go."
Thirty-six-year-old Sgt Mjr Tickle said: "It's always been a personal ambition of mine.
"It's something I have always wanted to do."
The Battalion members will run in a bid to raise £7,500 for the charity Sense, which supports children and adults who are deafblind or have associated disabilities.
Captain Jon Gilbody who is also running the marathon, said: "It's a really worthwhile charity that we hope to raise money for while competing."
The soldiers are training for the race around their duties and 28-year-old Corp Byrne said: "We have been running around Basra airport whenever we can.
"It's hard but we should be alright, we just have to do it when we have time.
"The temperature is 33c though and getting hotter."
Sgt Mjr Tickle, of Harwood, said: "The training is going ok. It's a little bit disjointed because our duties are priority with training second.
"It's the nature of what we are doing so we take time when we can and we're getting there.
"It will be nice to run without sand in my face during the marathon.
"I'm nervous but looking forward to it. I'm confident we can do well and put on a good show and most importantly raise money."
Anyone wanting to sponsor 1LANCS for running the marathon can visit www.justgiving.com/1LANCS.
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/trade_directory/