A SOLDIER from the Forest has been shortlisted for a national award for her sporting achievement.

Sergeant Naomi Benson is one of three finalists in the Soldiering On awards, the winner of which will be decided by a public vote.

Naomi completed her first Ultra Marathon in 2014. Then, in 2019, she undertook her first fundraising challenge for Combat Stress and ABF The Soldiers’ Charity – a weighted 50-mile Ultra Marathon around Snowdonia National Park.

The Medicine Ball Challenge is a nationwide fundraiser where participants are handcuffed to a 3kg medicine ball for a week as they go about their everyday lives to represent the unseen burden of mental health problems.

In February 2022, Naomi took on the Medicine Ball Challenge once again, running for 24 hours around Tidworth Oval athletics track with the 3kg medicine ball strapped to her wrist.

Incredibly, without sleep or rest, Naomi exceeded her target for laps run in this arduous challenge, completing a staggering 300 laps, the equivalent of 75 miles – and raising around £1500.

Naomi was nominated by Nicola Hudson from charity Combat Stress, who said: “The impact of Naomi’s efforts is far-reaching; she has been interviewed by BBC Radio and featured in the Soldier magazine and Forces News, emphasising to the military community that help is available should they need it, the importance of which cannot be understated.’’

The vote is online at at soldieringon.org/soa-2022-sporting-excellence-award-public-vote and closes at midnight on Sunday (August 14).