FORMER soldier Kenny Durham is to run his first half marathon at the age of 69.

The Forester wants to help keep open the museum dedicated to his former regiment, the Glorious Glosters.

The effects of lockdown have severely affected the Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum in Gloucester.

Kenny, who retired from military service last year, has already raised £4,000.

He said: “The Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum is the spiritual home of the Glosters and its 300 years of history.

“If it were to shut, then we would lose all of that.

“It’s a unique regiment – the only one to have two cap badges.and the only British Regiment to hold the American President’s citation for bravery awarded for their heroic stand on Hill 235 in Korea.

“The Glosters deserve to be seen for all that it achieved and the glorious men who have given the ultimate sacrifice so we might enjoy the freedom that we have today.

“I can’t let that go without a fight. Nor will I.”

Kenny, who lives in the Dean, is one of 10 children – five of his sisters still live in the Forest and Ross-on-Wye areas.

He was born in Littledean and went to Abenhall School and represented the Forest of Dean under-15s at soccer.

Kenny joined the army at 15 in 1968 and was posted to the Glosters three years later.

He completed a number of tours of duty and retired last year as a member of the Special Intelligence Service.

He said: “This is my very first official half marathon – for the last 10 years of my life I have been sat behind a desk.

“It was hard to get back into the swing of things but eventually I crawled my way into reasonable shape. I have run the half marathon distance three times now. ”

He will take on the Forest of Dean autumn half marathon on Sunday September 26.

To support Kenny, go to www.justgiving.com and search for Kenny-Durham.