Help our lads in Afghanistan

AN innovative challenge is being launched in Warrington to help support British troops in Afghanistan.
Residents and organisations are being challenged to complete the equivalent distance from the Town Hall to Camp Bastion in Afghanistan and back by any means, between May and October, to raise at least £500,000.
The Warrington Town Afghan Challenge will culminate in the second English Half Marathon which is, again, being held in Warrington.
The money raised will be shared between the following charities: Help for Heroes; Royal British Legion; Army Benevolent Fund; Royal Marines Charitable Fund; Sailors, Soldiers and Air Force Association; Combat Stress; The British Limbless Ex Servicemen’s Association.
Challenge Team spokesman Phil Winstanley said: “We are currently building a website and when it is up and running we will be initially launching the challenge at local level and then running it out nationally.
“We have already started a Group on Face Book called ‘Take the Challenge and Support Our Troops’ which was launched on Friday April 16 and has several hundred members already and is growing fast.
“The basic idea is for any school, group, club etc or individuals to organise their own event, register it on the website, collect the sponsorship and register the mileage which will be added to the pot – a community bank account at HSBC registered as Warrington Town Afghan Challenge.
“When all the targets are met, the monies will be distributed to the various charities.”
The initiative has the support of the borough council and Warrington Town Centre. The Mercian Regiment (Cheshire’s) which has just started a tour of Afghanistan will be completing the Challenge in reverse from Camp Bastion to Warrington Town Hall and back by any means.
The distance involved is 8,000 miles.
Further details are available from the Warrington Town Afghanistan Challenge, The Gateway, 85/101 Sankey Street, Warrington, WA1 1SR.