A CUMBRIAN-BORN soldier has completed a tough trio of races for charity.

Ian Norton, 32, from Longtown, did the Chester Triple Medal to raise money for the Great North Air Ambulance Service.

The Chester Triple Medal includes a 10k, a half marathon and a full marathon.

The last of the events, the marathon, took place on October 3.

Mr Norton, who served in the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, said it was not all plain sailing.

He said: "In the full marathon, I was smashing it and then ended up taking a breather and a muscle went in my knee.

"In the second half I was pretty much injured.

"I just kept going because I thought, ‘I can’t let everyone down that’s donated’.

"One of the muscles went in my knee and every time I was trying to run it gave me a shocking pain.

"Once I got going again it was alright, it was like a bit of a stabbing pain in my knee.

"It was all swollen up."

The father of two said that the injury had made it a challenge: "I was quite pleased that I got round.

"There were times when I was really hurting because my knee was going and I was cramping towards the end.

"If it wasn’t for the supporters I don’t think I would have got through."

Ian raised over £2,000 for the Great North Air Ambulance Service.

He said that his mum, who has terminal cancer, recommended raising funds for the charity.

He said: "I asked her to pick a charity that she wanted me to run for and she chose the Great North Air Ambulance because they don’t get any government funding and are totally reliable on donations."

Ian has been in the Army for 13 years and is now based in Chester.

He was also inspired by his time in the Army, particularly his three tours of Afghanistan.

"In Afghanistan I’d seen people get injured and taken back to the camp in the helicopter.

"The Great North Air Ambulance does exactly that.

"It’s a vital asset to absolutely everyone."

If you would like to donate, you can access Ian's fundraiser at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ian-norton4.