AN ex-soldier is giving something back to the Royal British Legion by creating and taking part in a cross-country marathon to raise funds for the charity.

Chris Jones decided to organise his own marathon after he realised he would be unable to take part in the London marathon.

The 39-year-old said: 'I am an ex-soldier, injured in service and discharged in 1998.

'Since then I have tried to live as normal a life as I can with my medical conditions, and a lot of my success in that has been thanks to the Royal British Legion, who have spent thousands of pounds on helping me adapt my life and my home to my injuries.

'I decided that it was time that I repay that kindness by doing something to raise money for the Royal British Legion, and so on April 7 I will be hoping to complete a cross-country marathon on Dartmoor using my hand-cranked bike, in the hope of raising more than £1,800.'

Last year Chris put himself down to complete the London Marathon on his crutches to raise cash.

He said: 'I got one of the RBL's places for the 2012 London Marathon, but was advised that I could not do it on crutches.

'The London Marathon committee will only allow disabled participants to compete in a certified wheelchair – which costs £3,500-plus – and then only after completing a qualifying marathon in under three-and-a-half hours.

'All-in-all I got the impression that I was not supposed to do it, and so I decided to create my own marathon that I could do using the equipment I already owned, hence the Dartmoor Adaptive Marathon was born!

'At the moment there are around thirty able-bodied cyclists and one other partially-disabled rider, but if others want to join me on the day that's fine, they just need to be able to be entirely self-sufficient on the day, and will need to ensure they have the correct clothing and equipment to ride on the moor.'

Chris, who lives in Ivybridge, hopes the marathon will become an annual event.

He is also looking set to smash his fundraising target after already receiving around £1,600 in collections, donations and sponsorship. He said if he reaches his initial target, he will extend it to £2,500.

If you would like to donate, go to uk.virgin moneygiving.com/

ChrisJones105.

You can also follow Chris on his blog at http://www.walkingthevirgin">www.walkingthevirgin londonmarathon20. blogspot.com.

The Royal British Legion is a UK charity that provides financial, social and emotional support to those who have served or are currently serving in the armed forces and their dependants.

The charity safeguards the welfare, interests and memory of those who are serving or who have served in the British armed forces. It is one of the UK's largest membership organisations and runs the annual Poppy Appeal.