A TEAM of 12 Gloucestershire College RFD Campus public services students are training for the Forest of Dean Trails Half Marathon on Sunday (March 27).

Five of the students will be running the event, while the other seven, along with lecturer Colin Johnson, will be completing the 13 mile (and a bit!) course wearing boots and carrying 16kg bergan rucksacks for the added challenge!

Colin said: "We have entered a Public Services team into the FoD Trails Half Marathon to raise money for Lydney Hospital and Dilke Hospital in order to support the outstanding service they provide for the local community.

"The FoD Trails event is one of the only half marathons run almost entirely on forest tracks, which makes it an even more challenging event!"

Student Mathew Johnson, 17, from Tutshill, said: "I decided to join the team because I like a challenge. It will be a fun way of raising money for two deserving causes, especially Dilke as this is the hospital that would normally deal with any students during term time.

"The trails half marathon challenge will also be a good test of my fitness and determination as I would like to join the Royal Marines when I finish college. The 16kg bergan rucksack (equivalent to 16 bags of sugar) is similar to the weight that many units of the Army and Royal Marines would be expected to carry during their training."

•Instructors and cadets from Gloucestershire Army Cadet Force (The Rifles) along with members of Gloucestershire Constabulary will be taking part in the Trials Half Marathon to raise money for the Warrior Programme http://www.warriorprogramme.org.uk">www.warriorprogramme.org.uk and also will be making a donation towards the Forest Rotary Club.  

One instructor will be competing in combat kit carrying a weighted burgan while the rest of the team will be in fancy dress. To make a donation, the cadets' web charity page is http://www.justgiving.co.uk/opwarrior">www.justgiving.co.uk/opwarrior