PROJECT 65 is a veterans’ charity set up by Barry Tappenden, whose father landed in a glider at Pegasus Bridge in Normandy in the early hours of D-Day 1944.

He was serving with the 52nd Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (now The Rifles) and their task was to capture the bridge across the Orne River and hold it until the beach invasion forces arrived.

On the 65th anniversary of D-Day, Barry arranged for a plaque to be fixed to the new bridge to commemorate the landing and successful capture of the objective.

Since then, he has organised fundraising events and marches to raise money for various service charities, this year to support The Rifles.

Last year, they replicated a training exercise which took place in the summer of 1942. As part of their training for the invasion, the 52nd left its base in Bulford and went to the north Devon coast to carry out live firing, obstacle course work and general fitness training.

At the end of the three-week period in Devon, they marched back from Ilfracombe to Bulford, a total of 129 miles.

They did this over five days in a very warm August, wearing full equipment over their heavy serge battledress.

This year, 132 runners ran or walked the five marathons in five days to commemorate the march – raising more than £100,000 for the charity.

The tired but elated runners were led into the Bulford festival site by the charity patron Lance Bombardier Ben Parkinson, who was told that after his injuries he would never walk again.

Barry, who was delighted with their efforts, said: “They are mad, but they are raising money for a very worthwhile cause.”