A FORMER Royal Marine is joining his old comrades next month taking part in a sponsored hike to help injured servicemen.Rickie Botwright will be pounding the streets of London with other ex-members of the regiment to raise cash for Help for Heroes.

A FORMER Royal Marine is joining his old comrades next month taking part in a sponsored hike to help injured servicemen.

Rickie Botwright will be pounding the streets of London with other ex-members of the regiment to raise cash for Help for Heroes.

Now a Detective Inspector with Great Yarmouth police, Rickie and the other 29 runners have been pledged an astonishing �63,000.

The group will meet Prime Minister Gordon Brown before setting out on the 13 mile course around the capital on Saturday, November 7.

Rickie, 46, joined the Marines straight from school in 1979 serving in the 1982 Falklands Conflict and Northern Ireland during the height of the troubles. All those taking part are serving police officers and they will join other veterans for the following day's Remembrance Sunday commemoration at the Cenotaph.

A dad of two, Rickie is hoping to raise around �1,000 with donations from friends, family, fellow police officers and the public.

He said: “A couple of officers have helped collecting �200 from stallholders at Yarmouth market and my aunt and uncle organised fund raising events.

“Complete strangers have also popped into the police station to give money and I am really grateful for their generosity, it has exceeded my expectations.

“Apart from helping a good cause, it will be wonderful to get together with the guys - some I have not seen for 15 years or more.”

While in the Falklands, Rickie took part in a gruelling yomp before engaging Argentine forces on the approach to Port Stanley.

He has completed marathons and half-marathons, but has been struggling with a knee injury during training for the speed march.

The speed march will finish in the Mall and the cheque presented to Help for Heroes on behalf of the Royal Marine Association at a regimental dinner.

To sponsor Rickie call 07786 111320 or email botwrightrb@norfolk.pnn.police.uk.