The sister of a Soldier severely injured while serving in Iraq has helped raise over £1,000 for the veterans’ charity caring for him.

Sian Cheesman led a team of five in the Tough Mudder obstacle course on 1 October in Crawley and raised £1,150 for The Royal Star & Garter Homes.

Her brother Stephen Vause receives round-the-clock specialist care at the Charity’s Home in Surbiton, where he has lived since 2015.

Money raised by Team Vause in the Tough Mudder challenge will help the Charity continue to provide award-winning care to ex-Service people and their partners living with disability or dementia.

Stephen was just 19 and on his first tour of Iraq, serving with the 4^thBattalion The Rifles, when he suffered brain injuries in a mortar explosion near Basra in 2007 which left him severely disabled.

Now 31, he requires 24-hour care from staff at The Royal Star & Garter Homes. Stephen’s disability means he uses a wheelchair and has limited speech, using a tablet to communicate. He regularly receives physiotherapy at the Home, and staff support him in getting hydrotherapy locally.

The Tough Mudder featured a five-mile course with 13 obstacles designed to test teamwork and toughness.

Sian’s family and friends were there to support Team Vause, cheering and encouraging them along through the gruelling challenge.

To show his support, Stephen undertook his own set of 13 challenges, including lifting weights, sit-ups and hand-eye coordination tasks.

Sian and Stephen’s heroics were also picked up by local media, which resulted in a welcome boost to their fundraising efforts.

Sian, 22, is assistant manager at the Well House Inn in Chipstead, Surrey. She said: “I never thought we’d raise so much money. We’ve had donations from complete strangers and people I haven’t seen since I was at school.”

She said her brother would be delighted and surprised with the amount of money raised, and added: “I just want to say a big thank you to everyone that gave money and shared our story.”

Explaining why she had chosen to raise money for the Charity, Sian said: “The Royal Star & Garter Homes has done a lot for Stephen, it’s time to give something back.”

To sponsor Team Vause go to: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/teamvause.