EX-SERVICEMAN Ben Greer started a 444-mile fundraising challenge in the snow.

But yesterday, four months on and 356 miles later, he arrived in Oxfordshire at the Memorial Gardens in Norton Way, Carterton, in the sweltering heat.

Mr Greer, who is ex-Royal Air Force and has completed six tours in Afghanistan on Chinook helicopters, is carrying 100kg on his back to simulate carrying an injured soldier.

He is walking one mile in honour of each of those killed on duty in Afghanistan as part of the challenge, called The Big Lift, to raise cash for Help for Heroes, SSAFA Forces Help, the RAF Benevolent Fund​, ABF The Soldiers' Charity and Royal Navy & Royal Marines charity. More than £31,600 has been raised so far.

Mr Greer, of Norfolk, will finish the final mile from The Cenotaph to Buckingham Palace on Sunday.

He said: “I wanted to bring back awareness from Afghanistan of what’s actually going on out there and what our lads and girls are doing on the front line every day.

Mr Greer said his main obstacle has been getting through fatigue.

The Big Lift is taking place in 100 locations in the country.

To donate visit thebiglift.co.uk

  • Listen to Mark Hemsworth's interview of Ben

listen to ‘Mark Hemsworth/Oxford Mail talk about Ben Greer on his trek’ on Audioboom