THEY are on a mission to give cancer researchers their big break in finding a cure.

Hampshire soldiers Lance Corporal Peter Lever and Private Ben Mickle were today entering the final hours of a 24-hour snookerthon at Southampton’s Baizz Snooker Club in aid of the Lymphoma research Trust.

And the pair, from Marchwood’s 17 Port and Maritime Regiment, were right on cue to raise a tidy sum for the charity – chosen after one of their colleagues from the unit was diagnosed with the illness. The soldier went through a tough course of chemotherapy and is now in remission.

The marathon event began at noon yesterday with the soldiers helped along by a support team who have been busy collecting donations.