A group of colleagues from Edinburgh Napier University are showing true team spirit by taking on a 50k in a day running challenge to raise funds for a cause close to one of their hearts.
Gary Seath, whose brother David tragically died during the 2016 London Marathon, works in the Development and External Relations department of the University. He and fellow colleagues Ben Waite, Craig Shearer, Barbara Kidd and Wade Cormack will mark the longest day of the year – Friday June 21 – by running 50km, the equivalent of ten Park Runs, across Scotland in support of The Captain David Seath Memorial Fund.
Gary established the fund following the death of David, 31, a captain in 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery who collapsed just three miles short of the London Marathon finish line. Captain Seath was running that day to raise money for Help for Heroes – a charity close to his heart. Since his death more than £290,000 has been raised in David’s memory to support Help for Heroes’ services for serving personnel and veterans of the British Armed Forces living with life-changing physical injuries and psychological trauma. All donations to the Captain Seath Memorial Fund are now used to support Help for Heroes’ fellowship programme for veterans and their families in Scotland.
The Longest Day 50K Challenge team will complete ten parkrun routes across central Scotland on Friday June 21, including Edinburgh, Meadowmill, Vogrie, Portobello, Livingston, Falkirk, Loch Leven, Lochore Meadows, Kirkcaldy and Dunfermline. The group of #TeamNapier runners are buoyed on by their fundraising success last year, when they completed the Edinburgh Marathon Festival Relay and raised over £400 in support of the Captain David Seath Memorial Fund.
Gary Seath said: “We face a contrasting set of challenges, compared to last year’s EMF Relay event, and we all have a clear picture in our minds what we need to do as a means to successfully complete the Longest Day Challenge. Working as part of a team is an integral part of the university’s values and, once more, we will work as a team to accomplish this considerable challenge to raise money in support of the Captain David Seath Memorial Fund.
“It’s overwhelming and incredibly inspirational to witness my Edinburgh Napier University colleagues who have trained hard throughout the winter. It’s also important to recognise our wonderful colleagues who will provide logistics and moral support to our team on the day. I am sincerely grateful to my colleagues at Edinburgh Napier University, many of whom have also donated money, attended our fundraising events and completed challenge events in support of the Captain David Seath Memorial Fund. Our entire family is greatly touched by the commitment and dedication from all involved.”
#TeamNapier member Ben Waite, who was part of last year’s Edinburgh Marathon team, said: “It’s great to get behind such a worthy cause once again. Our participation is only possible thanks to a strong sense of team spirit as well as the support and encouragement of friends, family and colleagues at Edinburgh Napier University. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who made a donation in support of our efforts last year and hopefully we can inspire further donations through this year’s challenge event.”
Anyone wishing to donate can do at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/cdsmflongestday50k
For More Information, contact:
Carol Stewart, Scottish PR Officer, Tel: 07944 060322
Email: carol.stewart@helpforheroes.org.uk
Notes to editor
The Captain David Seath Memorial Fund
All donations to the Captain David Seath Memorial Fund are used to support Help for Heroes’ fellowship programme in Scotland. The Band of Brothers and Band of Sisters networks provide social and learning activities, support, camaraderie and a wide range of opportunities to almost 800 Veterans and their families and carers across Scotland. Previously, donations were used to support wounded, injured and sick personnel through Help for Heroes’ Quick Reaction Fund (QRF). A total of 250 welfare grants were awarded in David’s name, which provided specialist sports equipment, respite breaks and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) therapy, as well as facilitating supported employment placements, training courses and the setting up of small businesses.
For more information, visit https://captainseathmemorialfund.blog/
Help for Heroes
- Help for Heroes provides recovery and support for all those and their families who have been affected by their time serving in the British Armed Forces. We are here for wounds both visible and hidden and are driven by the belief that those who put their lives on the line for us, deserve a second chance at life for them and their families.
- Every day, seven men and women are medically discharged from the Armed Forces, their lives changed forever.
- Since Help for Heroes was founded in 2007, it has supported over 21,000 individuals. This is done in a variety of ways, from welfare advice and psychological support; new career and fellowship opportunities (for both the wounded and their loved ones), to courses and activities designed to benefit their physical and mental wellbeing. Much of this support is available at the Charity’s four Recovery Centres.
- For more information, visit www.helpforheroes.org.uk