A GROUP of wounded, injured and sick veterans and service personnel have vowed to complete one of Yorkshire’s toughest walking challenges in less than 15 hours.

The team from Help for Heroes recovery centre Phoenix House will tackle the 42 mile Lyke Wake Walk, from Scarth Wood Moor, Osmotherley, across the North York Moors, ending on the North Sea coast at Ravenscar.

The challenge is to complete the full walk, an old coffin trail, within 24 hours.

Team leader Dean Middleton, strength and conditioning assistant at Phoenix House, said the group of six veterans, two serving personnel and four support staff, is aiming to complete the distance in just 14 and a half hours on Wednesday, September 17.

He said: “We will be starting at first light and will keep going from there. This is a challenge event to aid people’s recovery and boost their moral.

“Physical exercise releases your endorphins and makes you feel good about yourself. Fingers crossed the weather will be good too so we will be able to appreciate the beautiful scenery.”

Dean said the group has been training hard, taking part in other challenges throughout the summer such as the Pennine Way and walking parts of Hadrian’s Wall.

He said: “This is a really famous walk that we wanted to complete and it’s something everyone is looking forward to.

"The history is interesting too as it’s an old coffin trail. The walk commemorates the practice of carrying the bodies of the dead from different parts of the moor to their final resting places.”

To contribute to the Northern Echo Appeal to raise £100,000 for a performing arts facility at Phoenix House, print out the form at http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/resources/files/31397, complete and send with a cheque for Help For Heroes to Phoenix House Recovery Centre, Richmond Road, Catterick Garrison, DL9 3AW.