TWO servicewomen visited Royal Wootton Bassett this week as part of a memorial run to raise funds for charity.

Captain Nicky Jefferson, of the Royal Signals in Nottingham, and Sgt Sonia Clamp, an Army physical training instructor from Shrewsbury, are running 434 miles this week.

The women ran through Royal Wootton Bassett on Monday as part of the challenge, which is seeing them take part in 16 marathons in 11 days to mark the 11th anniversary of the conflict.

The team are raising funds for the ABF Soldiers’ Charity which helps injured soldiers and their families.

A spokesman for the charity said: “The money raised will go directly to helping soldiers and their families. We give lifetime support to serving and retired soldiers and their families. They risk so much for us, but for them, it’s just doing their job. In return, we provide financial assistance when they are in real need.

“It is anticipated that the requests for assistance will rise significantly in the coming years. It is the aim of the charity to increase fundraising to £14m a year by 2015 to be sure that we can help each and every soldier that needs our help. We depend entirely on donations and goodwill to do this.”

The women started at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire, last Thursday. The run will end at barracks in Ternhill, Shropshire, where Sgt Clamp is based.

To sponsor the soldiers visit http://www.justgiving.com/afghan-memorial-run