A FORMER military man is taking part in a 250km ultra marathon in Iceland to raise money for a veterans mental health charity.

Martin Ferries, from Orcop in the south of the county, is taking on the challenge called Fire and Ice in August.

He is raising money for mental health and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) through the charity PTSD Resolution.

Mr Ferries, 41, said: "I chose PTSD Resolution because since leaving the military myself, it has become clearly apparent that mental health and PTSD is a serious and stigmatised invisible illness which can affect the strongest of men/women, until sadly it can be too late for some.

"By raising money for PTSD Resolution I hope to help break the stigma, raise money for those that need it and get people talking openly about mental health. This way, we may be able to get help to those that need it sooner."

Mr Ferries left the army a few years ago and now runs the training department for Providence - a company that supplies discreet surveillance solutions to the government, intelligence and military.

He said: "I wanted a crazy endurance challenge which would capture people's imagination and hopefully encourage them to donate to the charity.

"What also makes Fire and Ice particularly challenging is that during each of the day runs all food, water, emergency equipment, sleeping systems etc must be carried."

Each of the six days consist of at least a marathon and day three of the event is closer to two marathons.

Mr Ferries will be representing Providence, which has paid for his flights to Iceland and the event entry fee.

To sponsor him go to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Martin-Ferries-Providence