Former soldier from North Bersted strides out on triple marathon

Good things come in threes for a North Bersted former soldier John Dixon.

That's why he has decided to walk a triple marathon in three days for charity.

The former soldier will complete one of the 26.2 mile/42.4km routes on April 5, 6 and 7.

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His marathon effort to stride out for nearly 80 miles is in aid of Help for Heroes to assist service men and women who have been fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.

A former colleague in the Royal Military Police has inspired the one-time soldier. Mr Dixon (39) said: "My old friend, Phil Packer, is in a wheelchair after losing the use of his legs in a rocket attack in Iraq.

"But he can do things that I've not done. I thought, with him planning to complete the London Marathon on calipers, there was no excuse for me not to do anything. I've raised the odd bit for charity before but I thought it was about time that I did it with some determination."

Famous explorer Bear Grylls is backing Mr Dixon by contributing a message to his website '“ www.threemarathons.co.uk '“ and he is also keen to make a donation.

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Mr Dixon, a cover supervisor at Chichester High School for Boys, was in the Army for 20 years. Sixteen of them were spent in the RMP.

He intends to build up his training, which he started about six weeks ago, to enable him to walk to and from his Shearwater Drive home to work each day.

But he is aiming to complete the marathons comfortably rather than at a sprint.

"I think it will take me about ten hours a day, that's 4.5kms an hour, which I should be able to do," he said.

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His first route will take him from Worthing to Midhurst. Day two will see him march from Midhurst to the Victory Gate in Portsmouth.

His final stretch will be between the Victory Gate and Berghestede Road around the corner from his home. He is likely to have company for at least some of the way.

Some of the students he works with at school intend to join him on part of his hikes.

Members of Chichester Army Cadet Force's B Company, where he is an instructor, also want to keep pace with him for a while.

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