A NORTH Yorkshire soldier has taken part in a 100-mile run through Iraq and Kuwait to raise cash for the children of colleagues who died in the Iraq conflict.

Sapper Chris Brown, 20, from Northallerton, joined 19 soldiers on the 15-hour sponsored run from Basra airport to Camp Coyote, in northern Kuwait.

The soldiers, from the Joint Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group, were among the first Coalition troops into Iraq at the start of the war.

They cleared mines and bombs to secure key installations, including oil wells and ports.

The group has also been teaching Iraqi children the dangers of playing with mines.

Three bomb disposal soldiers died during the conflict: Royal Engineers Staff Sergeant Simon Cullingworth and Sapper Luke Allsopp, and Royal Logistics Corps Staff Sergeant Chris Muir.

Between them, they left four children, as well as their partners.

Donations for their families can be sent to Central Bank, 33 Engineer Regiment (EOD), Carver Barracks, Wimbish, Saffron Walden, Essex CB10 2YA.