BOSTON (AP) - Twenty U.S. military veterans wounded in action in Iraq and Afghanistan will face a new battle: reaching the finish line of the Boston Marathon.

The veterans will attempt to cover all 26.2 miles of Monday's race as part of the Freedom Team.

The effort is sponsored by the group Achilles International, which helps disabled vets take on physical challenges such as marathons.

Competitors include Army Spec. Stefan Leroy, of Jupiter, Florida, who lost both legs while serving with the 82nd Airborne Division in Afghanistan.

Leroy will run on a pair of carbon-fiber blades. He'll be paced and guided by David Cordani, the president and CEO of Cigna Corp., a Connecticut-based health services company.

Freedom Team organizers say the program helps injured veterans regain fitness and build confidence.