Marines in moor charity challenge

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It was an emotional return for some military personnel

Nearly 200 military personnel and civilians have completed a 30-mile (48km) race across Dartmoor organised by the Royal Marines.

The 47 teams took part in the Chara Challenge to raise money for injured servicemen and the families of those lost in recent conflicts.

The teams included members of 3 Commando Brigade, who have just returned from Afghanistan.

Organisers hope to raise £50,000 for armed forces support charities.

The race began with a dawn service in memory of 37 troops killed during the deployment in Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan.

As well as those killed, 169 were wounded in battle and 379 suffered other injuries.

I just felt like this was something I needed to do Ben Miller

At the finish line, runner Ben Miller hugged his sister Kate Miller, 26, the fiancee of Marine Neil Dunstan, 32, who died in Afghanistan in November 2008.

He said: "I just felt like this was something I needed to do.

"Just seeing Kate at the end brings everything back.

"I was so pleased to see her and so glad I've done it."

Marine Dunstan, who died with Marine Robert McKibben when their vehicle hit a landmine, was due to marry Miss Miller in summer 2010.

'Commando test'

Plymouth primary school teacher Miss Miller said: "Neil was our family. He was a brother to my brother and sister and a son to my mum and dad.

"And he was my life, he was everything to me.

"Seeing Ben come in just made be unbelievably proud.

"It's the ultimate tribute."

Colour Sgt Mark Stevens, of the Plymouth-based brigade's Command Support Group, said: "It's something very close to our hearts.

"It's our comrades and friends and we just felt that perhaps we could do a little bit more ourselves in the services for these guys to help them rehabilitate for their future lives."

Organisers said the race "replicated the final Commando test" and had to be completed in 10 hours.

Racers wore boots and carried 32lb (14.5kg) in a rucksack, plus safety supplies and equipment.