They may be more than 7,000 miles away from home but troops from Maidstone will be carrying their own baton as the Paralympics gets into action this weekend.
Members of Maidstone-based 20 Squadron, part of 36 Engineers, who are currently on active service in Afghanistan, will be part of a physically challenging fundraising day being staged by the Search Task Force in Camp Bastion tomorrow (Saturday), raising funds for their fellow soldiers back home.
In total the relay challenge will cover 2,201km in 13 hours 35 minutes – the time it takes from sunset to sunrise there.
The distance chosen is the total between all the units which make up the task force.
They will begin at Camp Bastion with the distance being covered by running, rowing and cycling, and will raise funds and awareness for the British Limbless Ex Service Men Association (BLESMA), the Injured Soldiers Fund and the Felix Fund.
To donate and send messages of support, visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/EODS-TF-OPHERRICK16