Bovington-based soldiers have gone the extra mile to raise thousands of pounds for charity.

The group, which ran three marathons in 24 hours during the ONER Jurassic Coast run to raise cash for the Forces Children’s Trust, smashed their £5,000 target by raising more than £6,500.

Sergeant Carl Lewin of the Queen’s Royal Lancers regiment, who has served in Iraq and Afghanistan, rallied a team of five runners who agreed to take on the challenge which saw them running along the Jurassic Coast from Shell Bay in Poole to Lyme Regis.

Sgt Lewin was running alongside Corporal Jack Brown, 23, Captain Jay Ferman, 28, physical training instructor Jonathon Williams, 30, as well as Catterick-based Corporal Philip Gidley, 31.

The fighting-fit team ran 78 miles along the coastline, including through Lulworth, Weymouth, Abbotsbury and West Bay, for the charity that is devoted to helping dependent children who have lost a parent while serving in the armed forces.

Unfortunately two members of the team, Jonathon Williams and Jack Brown, could not complete the challenge due to injuries along the way.

Sgt Lewin said: “It feels awesome to have completed the challenge.

“Not only because of the fact it was such a long way and for the personal challenge but also for the fact that we have raised just over £6,500 for a great charity.

“I’m really proud of all the guys.

“Everyone put so much effort in, not only during the competition but the training up to it as well.

“We are all really chuffed and just over the moon.”

His wife Laura, 29, said: “It was amazing to see Carl and the others complete the run after all the months of training and all the time we lost as a family.

“It was all worth it in the end and I am so proud of him.”

Sgt Lewin said that the Children’s Forces Trust had touched the hearts of each member of the team.

He said: “There’s a lot of charities that focus on the soldiers themselves that are injured but I think the children and the people who are left behind are overlooked.