A Sunderland soldier is running 70 miles in 26 hours later this month to raise money for a local veteran’s charity.

Daniel Knight, 44, is running from Carlisle to Newcastle – along Hadrian’s Wall – on June 13 to raise money for Veterans in Crisis Sunderland.

The Sunderland-based charity provides practical, emotional and wellbeing support to veterans and their families, including guidance, signposting, one-to-one support and family-focused activities.

Daniel, who serves in the Royal Logistics Corps, said: "I am feeling mixed emotions – nervous and excited.

Daniel Knight is running 70 miles from Carlisle to Newcastle – along Hadrian’s Wall – on June 13 to raise money for Veterans in Crisis Sunderland.

placeholder image — Daniel Knight is running 70 miles from Carlisle to Newcastle – along Hadrian’s Wall – on June 13 to raise money for Veterans in Crisis Sunderland.

"The training has taken over my life and I am ready to get out there and get to the start line.”

Daniel, who has served in the British Army for 19 years, will be starting his run at 6.45am and is hoping to complete it within 26 hours.

He said: “I have never attempted an ultra marathon before, and I have picked a 70-mile hard route from Carlisle to Newcastle, along Hadrian’s Wall.

“In the past, I have completed a 40-mile walk up, down and around Otterburn training area, carrying approximately 25kg, completing it in 15 hours and eight minutes.

Daniel, who has served in the British Army for 19 years, will be starting his run at 6.45am and is hoping to complete it within 26 hours.

"It was the famous Lanyard Trophy, which is a reenactment of a World War Two scenario, where they carried kit across some arduous terrain to reconnect communications to carry on the fight.”

Daniel has raised £2,340 for the Army Benevolent Fund before, but decided he wanted to support a charity closer to home this time.

So far, he has raised more than £1,000 for Veterans in Crisis Sunderland.

Donations can be made to his fundraiser online at https://bit.ly/4uQNzZJ.