An Exmouth soldier is taking on an arduous charity challenge.

Sergeant Andrew Osborn, 50, will be attempting the Alliance Trust Cateran Yomp to raise money for The Soldiers Charity and The Alliance Trust Staff Foundation.

To complete the Yomp, Sgt Osborn will have to walk 54 miles through remote Scottish countryside in 24 hours.

Sgt Osborn, who lives in Morton Crescent, has entered the Yomp as part of team HammerAxe with Corporal Julian Woods and Corporal Christopher Briggs, from 23 Pioneer Regiment.

Sgt Osborn spent 22 years with the Royal Marines in Lympstone, and currently serves with 25 Training Regiment.

He said: “This will be an arduous effort, which will test the team to the limit of their endurance, but one which I believe is in a worthwhile cause.”

“The hills will be the biggest challenge. We’re not going over any peaks, but we’re going very close to them, and it will be very undulating ground.”

Sgt Osborn says his team will have to overcome more handicaps than most to achieve their goal.

“I could do 30 miles when I was 20, and now I’m more than twice as old, I’m going to be going nearly twice as far, which will be tough, as 22 years in the Royal Marines has taken its toll on my knees and ankles.

“Corporal Woods has a replacement ankle as well, which will hamper us over that distance.”

Between them, the team is hoping to raise �2,000, and they are well on the way to reaching that target.

“We’ve raised in the region of �1,300 so far, with more still to come in so, hopefully, we can beat �2,000.

“We’re also appealing for help from local businesses, particularly with supplies.”

To sponsor Sergeant Osborn, visit http://fundraising.soldierscharity.org/HammerAxe2?SID=319311&Lang=en-CA.