Published: Saturday, 13th March, 2010 4:00pm

Girls run for wounded hero

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FOUR sisters inspired by the courage of a Windsor soldier are preparing to pull on their running shoes and make a dash for cash.

One of the sisters, Carys Clyde, 28, of Charlton Way, is the wife of Coldstream Guards Sgt Mark Clyde, who was blown up twice in Afghanistan last year.

Sgt Clyde is still receiving treatment for his injuries, but the support from the unit has inspired his wife and three sister-in-laws to run the Reading Half Marathon on Sunday, March 21, in aid of the Coldstream Guards Charitable Fund and Help for Heroes.

The quartet, Carys, Rhian, Bethan and Elinor Hampson-Jones, who all grew up in Windsor, will be running as Team H-J.

Rhian said: "Mark was seriously injured in Afghanistan and some of his colleagues were more seriously so. We decided to do this to try raise money for the charity, who provide assistance to all ranks of the Coldstream Guards, both past and present, their wives, widows, children and other dependants.

"Only one of us has completed a half marathon before so it is a big challenge and we have all been sticking to our training regimes since the start of the year, albeit sometimes in about five layers when running in snow and rain. We have still managed to clock up in excess of 600 miles between us so far, which is pretty impressive when you think that before training started some of us hadn't run further than a quick sprint for the bus or train."

The girls are hoping to raise £4,000 for the Coldstream Guards Charitable Fund and a further £1,000 for Help for Heroes.

Sgt Clyde said: "I think it is brilliant. Carys hasn't run since she was 13 or 14-years-old and after two children it is a big challenge for her. They have all been doing their training and I have been out for a few runs, but what they are doing is brilliant really."

To sponsor Team H-J visit www.justgiving.com/teamh-j