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Para runs marathon in Afghanistan Para runs marathon in Afghanistan
(about 23 hours later)
A British para and commando-trained soldier is planning to take part in Sunday's London Marathon - but at his military base in Afghanistan. A British para and commando-trained soldier has completed the London Marathon in his body armour - but at a military base in Afghanistan.
Maj Al Jarvis, 33, of the Royal Engineers, arrived in Helmand last month for a six-month tour with 23 Engineer Regiment. Maj Al Jarvis, 33, of the Royal Engineers, arrived in Helmand last month for a six-month tour.
Maj Jarvis, of Farnborough, Hampshire, will run circuits around the tiny base in Lashkar Gah in 30C heat. Maj Jarvis, of Farnborough, Hampshire, ran 38 circuits of the tiny base in Lashkar Gah in just over six hours. He began at 0500 to avoid intense sun.
He is raising money for the Army Benevolent Fund. He estimates he has raised nearly £1,000 for the Army Benevolent Fund.
It is expected to take him five to six hours to complete 38 laps of the base wearing his Osprey body armour, weighing about 12kg. Troops from 23 Engineer Regiment were on hand with collecting tins and to keep up his morale.
No amount of money can bring back a daddy, husband, daughter or a limb Maj Al Jarvis His body armour weighed about 10kg.
Troops will be on hand with collecting tins and to keep up Maj Jarvis's morale. Maj Jarvis said: "I'm really pleased to have finished the course, it was quite tough going at times but I pushed through.
"The London marathon is a feature in the calendar and just because I'm deployed in Afghanistan I don't believe that should stop me taking part - in my own way," said Maj Jarvis, who is part of the UK's 16 Air Assault Brigade, which took command of the British Task Force in Helmand this week. "Thanks to everyone who supported me and who gave money. Altogether I've raised nearly £1,000 for the Army Benevolent Fund who do fantastic work.
"It will be tough keeping motivated and focussed doing so many laps of the same circuit, but I'm up for the challenge. "All of us out here are doing a job we have chosen to do and we accept the consequences.
"All of us out here are doing a job we have chosen to do and we accept the consequences. We have trained hard and are prepared for the worst as were others in past conflicts. Maj Jarvis completed the marathon in just over six hours
"We have trained hard and are prepared for the worst as were others in past conflicts.
"No amount of money can bring back a daddy, husband, daughter or a limb, but the Army Benevolent Fund helps to give some financial stability to families in times of distress."No amount of money can bring back a daddy, husband, daughter or a limb, but the Army Benevolent Fund helps to give some financial stability to families in times of distress.
"I just hope I will be able to finish, as the most laps I have done so far - in my sports kit - is five... only one way to find out," he added. "I'll be celebrating my finish with the lads, but no champagne because there's no alcohol allowed on military bases here."
Maj Jarvis's regiment is part of the UK's 16 Air Assault Brigade, which took command of the British Task Force in Helmand this week.