A FORMER soldier is undertaking a marathon task this weekend - to help his old army colleagues.

A FORMER soldier is undertaking a marathon task this weekend - to help his old army colleagues.

Darren Aitchison, 39, is running the 26 miles of the London Marathon to raise money for the Help For Heroes campaign.

He said: “I've chosen Help For Heroes because I previously served 12 years in the army with the Royal Engineers and I want to help make our injured service personnel's lives a little easier when they return from conflicts.

“I still have close friends and relatives serving and feel strongly that they should receive the best care possible if they were to get injured.

“Help For Heroes uses all of the donations received to help and support servicemen and women injured during recent conflicts around the world - the charity is completely non-political and doesn't promote or discourage the conflicts, it just helps those injured doing their jobs.”

Mr Aitchison, who lives with his wife and four children in Constable Road, Felixstowe, has never done a marathon before.

He said: “I have done the Great North Run a few times and the south run and other charity runs, and I am currently doing about 20 to 30 miles a week training.”

He is hoping to raise about �4,000 and his employer Integralis Ltd, an independent IT security company, has agreed to match the amount donated by his work colleagues.

He has also received donations from Opal Bathrooms by Design and G and S Warehousing and Logistics Ltd, and has a collection tin in The Owl and Pussycat pub, Grange Farm Avenue, Felixstowe. People can also donate via www.justgiving.com/darren-h4h-marathon.