COMMANDO veterans are on track to complete a “monumental” 190-hour-long relay run from John O’Groats to Land’s End tomorrow.
A team of 15 ex-Royal Marines have been running round the clock to raise more than £200k for charities.
Their average age is 49 and each man runs the equivalent of a marathon every 24 hours with 20lb of weight on his back.
They are raising cash for civilian and military charities including Combat Stress, the Royal Marines Charity, Papyrus Teenage Suicide, the Alzheimer’s Society and Cancer Research.
The runners aim to cross the line tomorrow at 1700 hrs, the final leg will be from Penzance at 3.15pm to Land’s End just under two hours later.
They set off on Halloween and are due to reach Land’s End after sunset Saturday as part of their Bootneck Yomp 25, having covered 991 miles.
Organiser Mark Gordon, 53, said the weather had been terrible but the running was “absolutely superb”.
He added: “There’s so much doom and gloom about, this is something really positive. It’s all about service.
“We’ve been trained to be responsible citizens and we want to demonstrate that service continues.”
So far the group have raised £30,000 for their charities of choice with more to come in the final stages.
The runners endured terrible weather in Scotland and are currently making their way through the West Country.
The route went down through the west coast of Scotland, skirted the Lake District, through the midlands and they are nearing Honiton in Devon this evening.
They will then hopefully arrive in Plymouth at 1am and then St Austell at 8am tomorrow morning.
Donations can be made via Just Giving or by direct contribution.
Supporters have flooded to social media to praise the participants.
One social media user said: “They’re working so hard for these charities, I really hope members of the public realise the tremendous effort put into this,
“They’re all carrying 20-pound backpacks and running in the pouring rain and their clothes are soaking through,
“Please donate anything you can, and if you see them during their journey please cheer them on, they deserve acknowledgement for what they’re doing.”
Another added: “To think you left John O’Groats last Friday night…insane effort! Keep on the push, the end is nigh.”
The Royal Marines Charity helps families of Royal Marines, their website said: “We strongly believe that once a Royal Marine, always a Royal Marine.
“Our vision is to offer lifelong support to the Royal Marines Family.”
The Bootneck Yomp website said: “All donors of money, resources, kit, nutrition, water, vehicles, goodwill and spare chocolate are extremely welcome!“
