THREE pilots from RAF Brize Norton will run 17 marathons in 17 days for charity.

Flight Lieutenants Rob Platt, 37, Tom Mountney, 31, and Graeme Hunt, 38, will run 448 miles in total to mark the number of soldiers who have been killed in Afghanistan.

The Hercules pilots were due to set off today from Brize Norton and will run across the south coast, visiting Yeovilton, Poole, Stonehenge and the Royal Military Acedemy, Sandhurst.

They will be raising money for a number of military and civilian charities, including Help for Heroes, Combat Stress and the John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation.

Flt Lt Mountney said: “We felt that this was a fitting tribute to the servicemen and women who have not returned from Afghanistan. Some of these people were our close friends and colleagues.

“Between the three of us, we’ve spent a large portion of our flying careers in Afghanistan, going for a run every day to raise some money. It is the least we could do.

“We’re raising funds for a number of military charities which we have a personal connection with.

“These charities have been set up as a result of the Afghan conflict, to either support returning service personnel or in memory of service personnel who have died. We hope the money will go some way to continue the outstanding work which these charities are doing on a daily basis.”

The run was originally called the 444 Run when the idea was conceived but four more people have died on operations since then.

s To make a donation, visit 444run.co.uk