TWO soldiers, who have completed a gruelling 69 mile ultra-marathon, have raised £2,500 for a toddler who died after battling an incurable brain tumour.

SSgt Steve Wood, of Malton and Sgt Marc-Del Valle, who are both currently serving soldiers at 2 Signal Regiment in York, ran the Hadrian's Wall challenge in an impressive 14 hours and 38 minutes, 22 minutes under their target time, to raise money for the Smiley Riley fund in memory of Riley Plant.

Steve, 37, said that the two friends were hoping to raise at least £2,000 for the fund and was thrilled to have beaten their fundraising target and estimated time of about 15 hours.

He said: "Knowing we raised £2,500 for such an amazing cause, for me, made it all worthwhile."

"The day was very long and warm and we both had some high and low points but we are both so proud to have completed The Wall."

The money will go towards the fund, which was set up in 2012 following the death of Riley who lived in York, to help pay towards living and travel costs for carers and parents whose children are undergoing chemotherapy.

As the largest ultra marathon in the UK, organised by Rat Race Adventure Sports, the challenge saw the two men run through Hadrian's Wall country from the 1000 year-old Carlisle Castle to Newcastle Gateshead Quayside.

Luckily the weather held up for the two runners and other than a few blisters the event went without a hitch according to Steve.

He said: "The weather wasn't bad, it was kind to us really and the sun kept away for most of the day but it was dry which was good.

"Marc had a few niggles and got bad blisters on his feet from 20 miles onwards but other than that it went brilliantly."

Steve is now preparing to take on his next challenge, the 100km Trailwalker challenge across the South Downs for Oxfam.

To help Steve and Marc raise even more money for the Smiley Riley Fund visit thesmileyrileyfund.co.uk