A TRIO of teenage girls are doing their bit for soldiers who have suffered life-changing injuries and illnesses while serving their country.

Friends Ashleigh Hall-Browne, Georgina Jones, and Leah Nelson are due to take part in a 5k run at Heaton Park next Saturday, February 6, as part of a fundraising campaign for armed forces charity Help for Heroes.

The girls, all aged 16, are currently undertaking a military preparation course with Training 2000, in Milltown Street, as the first step in securing a career in the army.

They were inspired by the ex-soldiers training them and are also planning a 10k run and a 24 hour silence to boost their collection efforts, after setting themselves an initial target of £200 on fundraising website Just Giving.

Ashleigh, from Radcliffe, said: "I'm going to do a various of things for Help for Heroes because it's a charity close to my heart.

"We all go to the army training centre and because of that we have met people who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder after being on active duty.

"It's really inspiring what they have done and what they are doing to help us get into the army as well.

"We've told the staff there about what we are doing for Help for Heroes and they think it's a really good idea. I think they are quite proud of us for doing it.

"Through doing the course we have been building up our fitness, so we think we're ready to do the 5k now and soon we will be able to move onto the 10k and whatever other events we can think of that will make a difference."

The military training course first opened in Radcliffe in 2009, with the aim of offering opportunities for young people who are not in education, employment or training.

To sponsor Ashleigh, Georgina, and Leah visit justgiving.com/Ashleigh-Hall11/