Last month, you may remember, we reported on a group of soldiers who aimed to undertake a marathon challenge to raise money for Help for Heroes - Cavalry Cyclists Swap Tanks for Bikes.

The group of soldiers from the Tidworth-based King's Royal Hussars have achieved their aim and cycled 900 miles from Land's End to John O'Groats in just six days. The seven men swapped their Challenger tanks for bicycles and cycled an average of 146 miles a day to raise money for the charity ‘Help for Heroes'.

The King’s Royal Hussars Cycling team at Land’s End (from left to right): Sgt Ian Smith, Capt Angus Tilney, WO2 ‘Frenchie’ Childes, Trooper Jamie Blay, Sgt Jeff McParland, Tpr Max McBride, Capt Mark Brightwell.

The team captain, Captain Angus Tilney, said afterwards, "We all did the whole route - it was not a relay - and most of us are back walking normally again! The longest leg was 175 miles and we all completed the challenge, despite one of us having a crash on the first day and ending up in hospital. Fortunately he was released with severe bruising and a shortage of skin and carried on. It was an amazing experience and I'm very proud of the whole team."

The team included Captain Mark Brightwell, who was injured in his hand and leg by a rocket attack during a six month deployment in Iraq last year. Mark, 27, spent two months at Headley Court, the military rehabilitation centre in Surrey where ‘Help for Heroes' is aiming to build a swimming pool for the use of injured servicemen and women by raising £5 million.

On the Road (left to right): Capt Mark Brightwell, Sgt Ian Smith, Sgt Jeff McParland, WO2 ‘Frenchie’ Childes, Capt Angus Tilney (Tpr Max McBride hidden)

The route took them from Land's End to Taunton in Somerset, Telford in Staffordshire, up to Kendal in the Lake District and over to border to Edinburgh, Badaguish and finally John O'Groats. The soldiers have raised £4,000 so far and are hoping that more will come in. The website www.justgiving.com/crimsonenduro remains open for donations until mid-September.