A PARACHUTE captain from Yelverton will be bearing considerable weight on his shoulders when he runs to raise money for an Armed Services charity.

Ash Howard, a Captain in 3 Para Regiment, will be taking part in the London Marathon in April to raise funds for the Soldiers Sailors and Airmans Families Association (SSAFA) Charity.

But if the 26 plus mile distance is not enough for any runner, he will be carrying a 40lb rucksack, and hopes to break the world record for such a feat, of four hours, one minute and 17 seconds.

Ash, who went to Plymouth College and has served three Army tours — in Iraq and Afghanistan — will be accompanied on the run by his girlfriend Emily, also a serving officer who is about to start training as an army pilot.

Ash's mother Kathy, a churchwarden in Yelverton, has been working as a SSAFA volunteer for years, so the charity is very close to his heart.

SSAFA is a charity that looks after servicemen and women, and their families, if they fall on hard times after leaving the forces.

This will be Ash and Emily's first full marathon and as such they will be following a rigorous and arduous training regime as they sweat blood and tears to achieve the best time possible.

If anyone would like to sponsor Ash go to the website http://www.justgiving.com/emandash">www.justgiving.com/emandash or text EMSY89 and the amount to 70070 (for example, EMSY89 £10).