Soldiers raced to the top of the Eiffel Tower inside the Colchester Garrison gym to raise funds for the MS-UK charity based in the town.

East Anglian Daily Times: Four Colchester-based squadrons race to Paris as part of charity challenge. Sergeant Jonathon Johnson presents the trophy to Private Austen Saunders from 82 Air Assault Task Force SquadronFour Colchester-based squadrons race to Paris as part of charity challenge. Sergeant Jonathon Johnson presents the trophy to Private Austen Saunders from 82 Air Assault Task Force Squadron (Image: Archant)

Four squadrons from 13 Air Assault Support Regiment Royal Logistic Corps ran 112 miles to Dover, rowed 21 miles across the Channel, cycled 181 miles to Paris and took 1,710 steps up the Eiffel Tower in the quickest time.

East Anglian Daily Times: Four Colchester-based squadrons race to Paris as part of charity challenge. Sgt Jonathon JohnsonFour Colchester-based squadrons race to Paris as part of charity challenge. Sgt Jonathon Johnson (Image: Archant)

82 Air Assault Task Force Squadron won in a time of 3 hours 10 minutes.

Proceeds from the event are still being counted, and will support the Josephs Court centre in Colchester.

Sergeant Jonathan Johnson, who organised the event, said: “It’s been an enjoyable way to get the whole regiment together and everyone’s really put a lot of effort in. I was expecting the first team to take five hours but that time was smashed.

“The Army is part of Colchester and I wanted to do a charity event that reached out into the wider community.

“The wife of one of our former soldiers has MS and I got to hear about Josephs Court and the work that it does for people with MS, and it seemed the perfect cause to support.”

Sam Harper, MS-UK’s fundraising co-ordinator, said: “We offer unique support to help people in the local community live their lives with MS, both those diagnosed and their families. It’s been great to both see the effort that the soldiers have put in to this challenge and build a relationship with the Army.”