A golf club captain has recruited a band of brothers in a bid to drum up as much money as possible for Help for Heroes through an endurance challenge – with a twist.

Noel Loftman, who lives in Stotfold, is heading up a seven-strong team who will be taking on the eight-mile march while carrying 15-kilo rucksacks from Mount Pleasant Golf Club in Lower Stondon.

Their aim is to complete the challenge in two hours to raise cash for the charity which helps British men and women who have been injured in British conflicts.

But given that the 53-year-old’s squad for the march – which starts at 1pm on Friday – includes two former golf club captains and this year’s vice-captain, the gents have also pledged to fit in a round of nine holes on their return.

Noel’s team is not without its fighters, with two men in particular on board who are refusing to lie down.

Harry Stone, from Shefford, had a heart attack in 2009 while playing golf and was physically attacked in London while at a sales conference earlier this month, but the 58-year-old is determined to take part.

Ex-Royal Navy man Gadge Grocott, who lives in Hitchin, also has cause to give it a miss after suffering a head injury while on a charity climb last week, but the 47-year-old is not put off easily.

Also in the ranks will be Wisconsin-born Mark Karls, retired army officer Ian Comerford, Doug Park from Shillington and Lower Stondon man Luke Fensome.

Noel said: “As Mount Pleasant Golf Club captain for 2015, it is my quest to raise as much money for Help for Heroes as I can in the 12 months of my tenure.

“We have had good support and plenty of sponsors so far, but I must say how proud I am to have these guys by my side who have shown great commitment to the club and captain.

“I also want to thank Gavin and Tara Simkins – who own and run the club – for their support with the event.”

Golf club members will be predicting the amount of points scored by the crew during the nine holes by using the Stableford scoring system.

To support the team in their quest email Noel at noel_14@hotmail.co.uk.

You can find out more about the work of Help for Heroes online at www.helpforheroes.org.uk.