A BOMB disposal soldier is planning to raise £100,000 for two charities by running, cycling and swimming 1,754 miles in just 26 days.

Warrant Officer Class Two (WO2) Si Hannaford, 42, is taking on the mammoth challenge to swim 21 miles, then cycle 1,000 miles from Land’s End to John O’Groats and finally run 733 miles from John O’Groats back to Bicester.

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Part of the challenge will see him run for the first mile wearing a full bomb disposal suit - weighing 5.6 stone - in an attempt to beat the fastest mile in a bomb disposal suit record of seven minutes and 24 seconds which was set by a British Army Solider in 2017.

Mr Hannaford, who is based within the Bicester area, is urging people to sign-up and follow his YouTube channel - he needs 1,000 followers so he can broadcast it live from his mobile phone.

The soldier said: “It will be tough emotionally and physically, but it’s not impossible and I’m determined to complete this challenge. I would not say I’m super fit – I would say I’m above average, but I believe it’s all in the mind - I’ve got strong willpower and I’m quite stubborn.

“I feel in a small way this challenge relates to the charities I am supporting. In my mind people who are being supported by these charities are facing much bigger challenges and these will at times seem impossible to deal with."

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Mr Hannaford's mum was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago and so he is raising money for the Hummingbird Centre in Launton as well as bomb disposal charity the Felix Fund.

The father-of-four, who has been training five hours a day, will set off on June 1 and his principal sponsors are Camper King, the Aardvark Group, NP Aerospace and Pearson Engineering.

To sign-up to Mr Hannaford's YouTube channel go to youtube.com/c/SiHannaford.

To sponsor Si go to uk.virginmoneygiving.com or justgiving.com/fundraising/simonhannaford.

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