A FORMER soldier on a mission to raise £100,000 for Help for Heroes is preparing to ‘gallop’ to his target with a birthday fundraiser.

Phil Bartlett, from Spennymoor, County Durham, has raised £80,500 for veterans’ charity Help for Heroes since he began fundraising eight years ago.

The 59-year-old holds a popular clay pigeon shoot in Fishburn every year and smashed his £50,000 target in 2015.

However, the veteran, formerly of the Royal Corps of Transport, is now hoping to raise the extra funds needed to reach his new £100,000 target and is planning a challenge to mark his 60th birthday.

Named the Garrison Gallop, Mr Bartlett will run 268 miles in 18 days from Chavasse House, in Colchester Garrison to Phoenix House, in Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire.

The fundraising champion has already began his training for the challenge which will involve running on average 15 miles a day.

He said: “I felt I was going to be short of hitting my target this year so I set myself a challenge of running from the Help for Heroes recovery centre in Colchester to the one in Catterick with the hope of arriving on my 60th birthday on August 30.

“I’ve called it the Garrison Gallop because I will be galloping between the two.”

He added: “Not only is it a means of raising cash for Help for Heroes, which I’m besotted with; it’s a big challenge just for myself too.

“People have said I’m absolutely mad and I probably agree.”

Mr Bartlett will leave Colchester on August 13 and is encouraging people to run with him along the route particularly on the last leg.

He is also looking for volunteers to support him along the way as well as anyone who can offer him a room each night to save him sleeping in his support van.

He said: “I just think it would be absolutely amazing to run through Catterick Garrison if everyone had their flags out – I’m very emotional when it comes to Help for Heroes.”

Help for Heroes was launched in 2007 as a charity dedicated to helping servicemen and women who have been wounded or injured while serving their country.

To sponsor Mr Bartlett visit Justgiving.com and search for the fundraising page Phil Bartlett or for more information call him on 07980-369468, weekdays after 5pm, or alternatively, email philbartlett1958@gmail.com