TWO work colleagues battled blisters and freezing temperatures to complete the Openreach Iceland trek and raise more than £37,000 for charity.

Iain Forbes and Jason Green, both Openreach employees from Brighton, conquered challenging Icelandic terrain to support the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association

A tough schedule of training, fundraising and preparation culminated when the SSAFA team banner was unfurled at the crest of Skógarfoss, one of the most breath-taking waterfalls in Iceland with a 60-metre drop.

Having served for 23 years in the Royal Artillery and also been a SSAFA case worker, Jason has seen first hand the necessity of the charity for the Armed Forces community.

He said: “I thought what better than getting involved in a challenging event rather than the normal fundraising in the office or workspace?

“Having worked for Openreach this past five years to see them team up with such a fantastic cause has given me inspiration to help in any way I can.”

He wanted to continue to support the charity in a different way through pushing himself to complete the challenge and to raise vital funds along the way.

Iain was inspired to complete the challenge having been a reservist himself and witnessing first hand the work that SSAFA does within the armed forces community.

With a family history with the military and a desire to find a new challenge to drive him for the year, Iain was eager to sign up for the Iceland trek.

He said: “This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity both for myself and to raise money for this worthwhile charity in support of those servicemen and women.

“I consider myself reasonably fit but knew that this was going to prove a challenge and test my endurance.”

Having set off from the outskirts of Reykjavik on August 19, the team trekked together for hours each day through lava fields, frozen ground and dramatic scenery before finishing four days later.

A group highlight was seeing the Northern Lights unexpectedly which helped to keep morale high.

Each participant had personally been tasked with a minimum target of £3,000 to fundraise for SSAFA, with all money raised going towards providing practical, emotional and financial support to members of the forces family in need.

SSAFA became Openreach’s first formal charity of the year partner in 2015, kicking off a five-year partnership.

Staff have now raised £100,000.