104-mile charity walk for father of tragic soldier

John Hyde set up the The Lance Corporal Ben Hyde Memorial Trust in memory of his 23-year-old son, from Northallerton, who was one of six Royal Military Policemen gunned down in the town of Al Majar al-Kabir.

Since 2005 the trust has raised almost £100,000, with more than £30,000 granted to the Royal Military Police Central Benevolent Fund and the rest donated to other charity causes.

Mr Hyde, 66, has for the last six years raised money by embarking on long-distance walks with friends Noele and Irene Christon, while carrying a dummy soldier named “George” on a stretcher.

And this year he has elected to take on the White Rose Way, a 104-mile walking trail from Leeds to Scarborough on a route traditionally taken by holiday-makers from West Yorkshire.

The trio will start at the foot of the Black Prince Statue in Leeds City Square at 11am tomorrow, with the finish line being at the harbour-side Tourist Information Centre in the South Bay, Scarborough, next Saturday.

They will be joined for the first day by several members of 116 Provost Company, a territorial Military Police Company from Manchester.

Donations are made by texting BENS27 plus the amount you wish to donate, up to £10, to 70070. A normal network text charge will apply.