An ex-royal marine is today taking on the Hardmoor 160 to raise money for a charity close to his heart.

Kevin Borwell, from Stillington near York, is aiming to run ‘The Ring of Steele’ ultramarathon to raise awareness and £2000 in funds for the Army Benevolent Fund (ABF), The Soldiers’ Charity.

The 56-year-old plans to run the 160-mile route across the Moors from Scarborough to Filey in 36 hours, taking in Helmsley via Levisham, Lockton and Hutton Le Hole, although competitors have 48 hours to complete the race.

“I have always enjoyed a challenge and most importantly, I want to attract people’s attention to the ABF.

“My son Christopher is serving as a Royal Engineer and some of his friends have had serious injuries. It really brings it home,” said the landlord of the Bay Tree in Stillington.

An ultramarathon is classed as anything over the traditional length of 26.2 miles.

Kevin, who served in the Royal Marines from 1976 to 1985, has already run the Hardmoor 55 Ultramarathon earlier this year.

He added: “I got through the Marines unscathed but I had friends who were left seriously injured or killed.

“My wife Pamela says I’m a raving lunatic and most people think I am crazy. One person in the pub told me it was like running to Newcastle and back, but I want to put myself up for the challenge."

His training has consisted of spending days running without regular sleep and eating during a run.

When he sets off at 5pm, he will have only 20 check points throughout the marathon. His support team, consisting of his son and personal trainer Hannah Longster, will be waiting for him at these points.

Kevin plans to walk uphill to preserve energy: “At some point, I will feel like I have nothing left, but you just keep going. Once I start, that’s it.”