Abingdon soldier Nick Westhorpe is refusing to let tonsillitis stop him tackling a half-marathon in Iraq.

Lance Corporal Nick Westhorpe

Lance Corporal Westhorpe, 27, organised the event which has attracted more than 350 entries from military personnel based in the southern town of Basra.

He is one of 150 soldiers serving with 4 General Support Regiment Royal Logistic Corps from Dalton Barracks, Abingdon, on a tour of duty in the city.

He has had tonsilitis on home leave in Abingdon, and was returning to Iraq today ahead of tomorrow's run.

And while he and others are pounding the miles in the heat of Iraq, 150 of their colleagues at Dalton Barracks will be running a half-marathon at the same time on Friday in far cooler conditions.

Children from the station's pre-school - where his wife Joanne helps out and daughter Amber, four, is a pupil - are also helping the cause.

They selling heart-shaped shortbread biscuits and on Sunday there will be a Family Fun Day.

All proceeds from the Iraq run and events at Dalton Barracks will go Macmillan Cancer Relief and school projects in Iraq.

L Cpl Westhorpe said he had been affected by the poverty of families and young children in Iraq and decided to help.

He said: "You can't help but be moved seeing young children with few clothes and no shoes. The schools lack the most basic equipment so I decided it would be good to try to help.

"When I suggested a run in Basra, few people seemed interested. Then, after a while, it exploded into life."

L Cpl Westhorpe, who has been in the Army for five years, also organised a marathon for charity while serving in Kosovo last year.