Church Housing Trust is lucky enough to have another keen fundraiser taking on an incredible challenge later in the year.

Dave Bray is raising funds for The Beacon, a supported housing scheme in North Yorkshire for veterans and ex-Services personnel, by taking part in the Great North Run on Sunday 13 September.

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Dave retired from the Royal Corps of Transport in 2005 due to ill health, having served for 23 years. He regularly raises funds for military and veterans’ charities, and estimates he’s raised more than £20,000 over the past seven years.

Although he lives locally, about two and a half miles away, he hadn’t heard about The Beacon and only discovered it existed when he happened on its Facebook page. When he found out about the scheme, he began collecting anonymously donated goods, getting donations to the value of £600 in the months leading up to Christmas.

Currently, his marathon training covers about 25 miles per week, depending on his knees and back, mainly walking with his Staffordshire terrier in the Yorkshire countryside. He says he’s knackered, but would run the marathon regardless of how much he gets to train.

Due to his injuries, the cold weather causes him pain, so where possible he’s using the Help for Heroes gym. So far he’s lost 4lbs and 2% of his body fat, which is an excellent start!

A few friends are accompanying him, one also raising funds for The Beacon and two others running for different causes.

Dave aims to raise £1,000 for The Beacon, and has £80 on his JustGiving page so far – please sponsor him!