A team of friends, many of whom have served with Captain David Seath in the British Army, will run the 2017 Virgin London Marathon in his memory. The team will make the poignant trip back to London in April and take on the 26.3 miles to raise funds for the Captain David Seath Memorial Fund.
Many within the team met Captain David Seath at The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, where strong bonds of friendship were formed throughout a gruelling year of Army Officer training.
Alex Davis, who trained to be an Army Officer with Captain Seath at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, said:
“Dave was a great friend and colleague of mine. His companionship through the best and worst of times has helped shape the man I am today. I miss him dearly. After his death a Help for Heroes fund was set up in Dave’s name – The Captain David Seath Memorial Fund. The fund was started by Dave’s brother Gary. I hope to continue both Dave and Gary’s great work by raising funds for this worthwhile cause.”
Having graduated from Sandhurst, Captain Seath joined the ranks of 19th Regiment Royal Artillery (The Scottish Gunners) and prepared for a tour of Afghanistan as part of Operation Herrick 16.
It was in the Nahri Saraj district of Helmand Province in 2012 where he served with fellow officers like Pete Alexander, who said:
“Not a day has gone by where those who knew him haven’t shared a thought for him and it wouldn’t be right to allow the London Marathon 2017 to pass without throwing on the trainers and hitting the streets in his memory. As we sweat it and grizz it out to the finish line, we know he’ll be laughing his head off watching us, but he will always be as grateful to you as we all will be for any kind donations you are able to make in support of The Captain David Seath Memorial Fund.”
Matt Burton, a close friend of Captain Seath, spent the Friday evening before he ran the London marathon in Edinburgh. It was an opportunity to catch up which proved to be a poignant farewell.
“I am very proud to have been asked to join a team who will run the 2017 London Marathon in memory of Captain Dave Seath who tragically died taking part in the event last year. All funds raised will go to support the Captain Dave Seath Memorial Fund.
“Like all of those who will be running in our team, I knew Dave not only as a motivated and professional Army officer; but also as a best friend. His loss has been hard on everyone who knew him. But thanks to his amazing family, something incredibly positive – The Captain Dave Seath Memorial Fund – will be his lasting legacy.”
The Captain David Seath Memorial Fund was established in May 2016 and, so far, his legacy has provided over one-hundred and fifty financial grants to wounded, injured and sick personnel in partnership with Help for Heroes. The funds have assisted beneficiaries rebuild their lives who live with physical and psychological trauma as a result of service.
The team will take on the London Marathon the same day a 5K memorial run takes place at Pittencrieff Park in Dunfermline during a coordinated day of commemoration for Captain David Seath, one year on from his tragic death running the 2016 London Marathon.
Gary Seath, Founder of The Captain David Seath Memorial Fund said:
“We are both honoured and humbled that this wonderful team of inspirational people have come together to take on the London Marathon in memory of David and raise funds for the Captain David Seath Memorial Fund. It’s very clear to me that a very special bond existed between David and so many of his colleagues within the Army, all of whom have shared so many wonderful memories of David and we can’t thank the team enough for their incredible gesture in support of David’s legacy.”