DETERMINED ramblers battled through testing conditions to complete its 24-hour relay walk between Bournemouth Pier and Boscombe Pier walkers in aid of a veteran’s charity based in Poole.

Helping Homeless Veterans-UK hosted the event, which was attended by 45 participants with support from many volunteers and supporters including representatives and players from Poole RFC junior section as well as members of Bournemouth CCF.

Bournemouth East MP and former Minister of Defence Tobias Ellwood, who served in the Royal Green Jackets and reached the rank of captain, joined in with the relay with his two sons.

Director of Helping Homeless Veterans UK David Wood said: “The weather was atrocious for most of the event with high winds and heavy rain which made the event even more challenging, but the event has raised over £1700 with money still coming in.

“We were also privileged to have Tobias Ellwood MP present who not only started the event off but also completed the Relay with his two young children.

“Tobias took time out of his busy schedule to attend at short notice and this was a big morale boost for all the participants.”

Starting at 9am on Saturday, the group clocked up over 1.2 million steps in total and raised over £1700 for the charity.

The money raised from the relay walk will go towards heling to rehome homeless veterans and providing them with household essentials when they move into their new property.

The not-for-profit, volunteer-run charity works closely with the local authority to find homeless veterans and house them in suitable properties in the area.

Members of the charity and a team from Bournemouth CCF will also be taking on the Four Peaks Challenge in late April, scaling Ben Nevis, Scarfell Pike, Snowdon and Pen Y Fan in just four days.

To donate to their upcoming challenge, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/1usst71iyo.