As anyone who knows us is aware, we are not strangers to endurance events, having participated in Ironman triathlon for the last couple of years and devoted holidays to cycling up mountains or going on training camps. This year, however, we've put away our wetsuits and our bikes and are embarking on our toughest challenge yet. Just in case one marathon wasn't enough, we thought we'd do five! Yes, bring on the Forces March!

Military charity Project 65 has created FORCES MARCH, an incredible annual ‘Super challenge’ to raise funds for the care and support of wounded armed forces personnel and bereaved families. It's based on a march undertaken by men of the Airborne Division in August 1942. They were told to walk from Ilfracombe back to Bulford Camp in Wiltshire, stopping where they could and eating whatever they could get. 

The Forces March is run over 5 days, with each of the stages being approximately 26 miles. It's open to teams of 4 or individuals and can be entered by runners, walked or disabled participants. We've entered as individuals and are planning on completing it together. The route is "challenging" with many hills and valleys and even more alarming is the fact that some navigation is involved (anyone using the words "officers" and "maps" in the same sentence gets a slap!) To emulate the original march, we're allowed one bergen of kit for the week on the support truck and will be camping each night. Facilities are basic, with porridge and pasta being provided by the locals for breakfast and dinner.

We're under no illusions - it will be physically and mentally our hardest challenge yet, but also an incredible adventure. Most importantly, it's for a very worthy cause. With Iraq and Afghanistan, the number of seriously injured Service personnel returning home from combat with life-changing disabilities has increased exponentially. They, and their families, need our support as do the families of those who did not make it home.

Project 65 has set itself a target of donating £1,000,000 by the end of 2010 to 7 Service charities:

- The Army Benevolent Fund

- BLESMA, the British Ex-Service Man's Association

- Help for Heroes

- RAF Benevolent Fund

- St Dunstans, which supports ex Servicemen and women with significant loss of sight

- The Royal British Legion

- The Royal Naval Benevolent Trust

Please support our latest act of madness and dig deep for Project 65.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - weraise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

Please.... donate now (or we will keep nagging you!)

Many thanks,

Kyle and Pen (aka The Barkers)