AN RAF airman is planning to run 100km across Oxfordshire in under 14 hours to raise money for a life-saving charity.

Flight Sergeant Gaz Elliott , 41, will run the Oxfordshire Way long distance footpath on Saturday.

The 66-mile path runs from Bourton-on-the-Water in Gloucestershire to Henley.

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FS Elliott is raise money for Lowland Rescue Oxfordshire – a voluntary search and rescue team that assists police in searching for high risk, vulnerable missing people.

The team is made up solely by volunteers who are on call 365 days a year.

FS Elliott has been volunteering at the charity for nine years and now trains the team’s rescue dogs.

Oxford Mail:

Picture: Kate Parrott © UK MOD Crown Copyright 2020

He said: "Like a lot of people I had never heard of Lowland Rescue. People hear a lot about mountain rescue, going to help walkers and hikers.

"Oxford has no mountains, so lowland rescue differs. The majority of our work is getting called out for people who have Alzheimer's, dementia, or are from care homes. We get a lot of call out for despondent and suicidal people.

"Anybody the police deem high risk, sometimes children, sometimes people with mental health issues, we get called to help.

"Last year we had 80 call-outs, and with each year we are getting more and more. Particularly in the current conditions, people's mental health is deteriorating."

Due to the pandemic, the volunteers have not been able to raise as much money as they usually would.

FS Elliott aims to raise £3,000 for the group and inform people about the cause.

For every one hour spent searching the average volunteer has done 10 hours training.

Oxford Mail:

Picture: Kate Parrott © UK MOD Crown Copyright 2020

He added: "To put the target into perspective that will just keep the running costs going for the team covering insurance, and radio licenses. We are not buying any additional kit, but just maintaining.

"We don't receive money, we don't charge the police, we don't charge fuel money - everything is completely voluntary and everyone who is there wants to help."

Lowland rescue's dog unit lead, Julie Shepherd, said: "I think he is mad. It's a super human feat to do what he is doing.

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"But he is doing it raise awareness and raise essential money.

"Last year we spent of 500 man hours searching for people and managed to save five lives."

FS Elliott will be live broadcasting the event on the day via .

So far the 'ultra-marathon' runner has raised £640.

You can donate to the cause here.