A soldier from Ellesmere Port who defied the odds to win two prizes at his passing out parade is seeking new challenges.

Richard Hughes, 27 was nominated for a PioneerYour Champions award last year.

The former Whitby High School pupil is partway through two years of training to become an avionics technician with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, carrying out maintenance on Apache helicopters.

Proud mum Sue Hughes, also of Ellesmere Port, attended the parade and was surprised to see her son step forward when the prize winners were announced.

His comrades voted Richard as best recruit and soldier’s soldier.

Richard said: “This year I am taking on some pretty big challenges to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

“I am doing Ironman UK in Bolton in July, the Rotterdam Marathon in April and Tough Mudder, a 12-mile assault course, also in April.

“There are also two other challenges which I may be taking part in, although they are not confirmed yet.

“These are the LA Marathon in March and The Wall ultra marathon, which is 69 miles in June.”

Richard is at the Army’s School of Electrical & Aeronautical Engineering in Berkshire.

He added:“The avionics trade training lasts around two years, I still have over a year left.

“The good thing is we get the chance to do a lot of sports while we are here.

“I won the corps boxing championship last November, which makes me REME middleweight boxing champion.”

He describes fitting in up to 24 hours training a week around the day job as ‘tough’.

People can support Richard’s efforts through

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