A PONTYPOOL soldier will run 13.2 miles in Afghanistan next month to raise money for a forces charity.

Lance Corporal Matthew Ash, 25, from New Inn, will complete the first ever half-marathon around his forward operating base in Sangin.

He will raise money for the Royal Marines Association and came up with the idea as a way of honouring and remembering the 14 colleagues who have died since 40 Commando was deployed to Afghanistan The Association helps support soldiers and their families, injured sldiers and veterans.

Lance Corporal Ash will complete the challenge with his friend Padre Andrew Rawding by running several laps around the operating base.

They hope to complete this within the first two weeks of September but this will depend on security issues and what the soldiers are doing.

His fiance Nicola Way, 24, from Deri near Bargoed, said: “He’s training as much as he possible can. He does a lot of running and seems to be doing well. “ Lance Corporal Ash, who joined the Royal Marines seven and a half years ago, will have to cope with temperatures of at least 40 degree celcius.

Miss Way met the soldier two years ago and they are now planning to marry in April.

This is the soldier’s third tour of Afghanistan and he is due home in October.

Miss Way said: “I am really so very proud of him and mine and his family are too."

She said she is now counting down the weeks till she sees him.

The soldiers has so far raised £1,200.

Anyone wanting to sponsor Lance Corporal Ash can do so at www.bmycharity.com/V2/Sanginhalfmarathon