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The local community commemorated the life of Captain David Seath by running and walking 5K around Pittencrieff Park, Dunfermline on Sunday 28 April, raising over £1100 in support of his legacy, which was established in his name following his tragic death running the 2016 London Marathon.

On what proved a wonderful spring day amongst the cherry blossoms of Pittencrieff Park, over one hundred and thirty runners and walkers completed 5K to mark the 3.2 miles Captain David Seath tragically did not finish when he tragically died running the 2016 London Marathon.

Now in its third year, the Captain David Seath Memorial Fund 5K run/walk event contributes to a wonderful sense of community, solidarity and positivity on the day the London Marathon takes place, which brings all ages, abilities and many groups from the local community and beyond together.

The Captain David Seath Memorial Fund has raised over £294,000 which has been used to support two hundred and forty-eight personnel and veterans living with life-changing physical and psychological trauma, through Help for Heroes, the charity which Captain Seath was running in support of during the London Marathon.

Gary Seath said:

“April is a very difficult time for our family and our 5K commemorative event provides a very important, positive focus on the day the London Marathon takes place. It’s a wonderful experience to warmly welcome so many from the local community to the event, which contributes to a fantastic sense of community spirt, positivity and solidarity.

“Equally, it’s overwhelming to witness attendees of all ages and abilities participate in our event, all of whom are passionate to commemorate David’s life and support his legacy through the Captain David Seath Memorial Fund. It doesn’t matter whether you complete the 5K distance in seventeen minutes or an hour and a half. What does matter is ensuring everyone who attends experiences the immense feeling of being part of something very special and that their support is greatly appreciated.”

The Captain David Seath Memorial Fund has recently announced that all fundraising will now support the development of Help for Heroes’ Fellowship Programme in Scotland, through its Band of Brother and Band of Sister Networks. 

The funds will be used to support personnel, veterans as well as their loved ones to access vital life-long support at Phoenix House in Catterick as well as an opportunity to engage regularly with one another in communities across Scotland through a range of sporting, educational and social activities. 

Chris and Emma Hoefling, said:

“It is inspiring to see the local community coming out to support the Captain David Seath Memorial Fund. The event is so accessible; no matter your age or ability, anyone who wants to join in is made to feel welcome and enjoy the day within a picturesque setting and support David’s legacy.”

Ryan Cridland said:

“It proved a fantastic event and we will be back next year. Hopefully both the event and David’s legacy will continue to grow. All those involved should be so proud of what they are continuing to achieve.”

Lorraine Abbot said:

“I thoroughly enjoyed it as I did last year it’s the whole friendly atmosphere when you are there. I am a runner and have done the London marathon but that’s not what I was there for. I am there to support our heroes and raise funds to do this. Roll on the next event.”

The event attracts ex-servicemen and women to participate and make a contribution towards David’s legacy, supporting fellow personnel and veterans living with life-changing physical and psychological wounds.

Steve Allwood, a Royal Navy veteran who served in the Falklands Islands campaign, said:

“The Captain David Seath Memorial 5K Run/Walk event was extremely well organised, very friendly and a warm welcome and encouragement is provided to all participants throughout the course in Pittencrieff Park. We are always happy to support a very worthwhile cause.”

Steven Bowman, an Army veteran said:

“As a former serviceman it was a great honour to run the 5k In memory of captain David Seath. A warm welcoming, well run event which supports a fantastic charity in Help for Heroes. I would definitely recommend to people of all ages and abilities to get involved.”

We offer our sincere thanks to 1145 Dunfermline Squadron RAF Air Cadets for their continued support as official Event Marshals. Captain David Seath served as a Cadet at 1145 Squadron during the early 2000’s, and it was the breadth of experiences gained as a cadet which developed his leadership skills, prior to studying at Aberdeen University and enrolling at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. 1145 Squadron continue to raise an incredible amount in support of David’s legacy and have established an annual award in his name.

We also wish to acknowledge the incredible support we continue to receive from both Fife Council and Dunfermline Park Run, who have made an invaluable contribution towards the success of our 5K commemorative event, behind the scenes, for the past three years.

Our next fundraising event is the Captain David Seath Memorial Fund Golf Day, which will take place at Dalmahoy Hotel and Country Club on Friday 06 September 2019. Further information: https://captainseathmemorialfund.blog/home/events/golf-day/

 

We are looking forward to welcoming everyone this weekend to our Captain David Seath Memorial Fund 5K Run/Walk event at Pittencrieff Park, Dunfermline on Sunday 28 April 2019.

Please find important information about our event below:

Where to find us

Please make your way towards our Help for Heroes marquee, which will be located at the A907 end of Pittencrieff Park, next to the new children’s play park and a short walk from the Glen Pavilion. 

Timings

• 0915hrs: Registration opens
• 0945am: Registration closes
• 0950hrs: Welcome
• 1000hrs: Run commences
• 1010hrs: Walk commences
• 1100hrs: Event closes

Registration

Registration will run from the marquee and please note we do not require printed Eventbrite tickets. We also warmly accept cash payments of the £5 registration fee on the day.

Parking

Car parking facilities are available at the A907 car park and Glen Pavilion, both are a short walk to the marquee and start/finish point.

Toilets

The toilets, located by the Glen Pavilion Cafe, will be open from 9am.

Free Water/Fresh Fruit

Free water bottles and bananas will be available to all attendees at two stations along the 5K course.

Our sincere thanks for supporting the Captain David Seath Memorial Fund

We were delighted to receive an email from Cath Munro recently, a close friend of Captain David Seath, who has very kindly arranged the installation of a memorial plaque on a bench within whittington Gardens, London. The gardens are located opposite the 23 mile mark for the London Marathon, close to the point Captain David Seath tragically collapsed during the 2016 Virgin London Marathon.

Cath said:

“Whittington Gardens is a wee patch of green on the edge of the City, right next to the 23 mile mark of the London marathon. I have visited this garden many times since Dave died – to laugh, to cry, to reflect and to remember. I am so pleased that there is a permanent tribute to Dave here, for those who knew him as well as for those who weren’t lucky enough to see his cheeky smile. He was an incredible person and a wonderful friend. He is very dearly missed. My thanks go to The City of London Corporation for helping to make it happen.”

As a family, we are incredibly grateful to Cath for making this wonderful gesture in memory of Captain David Seath which will prove a very poignant, powerful site to visit for friends, family and the general public in the future.

Read more about memorials installed in memory of Captain David Seath

A group of colleagues from Edinburgh Napier University and Park Run will run over 50K in one day, across Central Scotland, in support of the Captain David Seath Memorial Fund on Friday 21 June 2019. In part one of our ‘Meet the #CDSMF50K Team’ feature, it is our pleasure to introduce Ben Waite, who works alongside Gary Seath in the Marketing and External Relations Department at Edinburgh Napier University.

Ben describes his reasons for getting involved:

“Gary and I began working together at ENU just over two years ago. I quickly became aware of his story and the wonderful work Gary and his family has carried out in memory David. I have come to think that Gary doesn’t sleep as, between his full-time job and charity work, he is one of the busiest people I know.  He really has inspired me and I felt I have to do what I can to help.”

“Last year we ran the Edinburgh Marathon Relay as team ENU and had a wonderful experience. We really didn’t want it to stop there though and, being a very keen park runner myself, we thought up this year’s crazy challenge. We have put a lot a thought into it and (though I am a bit nervous) I really can’t’ wait.”

Ben is heavily involved within Park Run, and recently completed his own personal milestone recently:

“I’ve been a regular park runner for 4 years now, completing my 100^th two weeks ago. I also volunteer regularly and am part of the Edinburgh Park Run core team. I’ve acted as Run Director quite a few times and love the role. Park Run in general has given me the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people.”

Gary Seath will run alongside Ben on 21 June, who said:

“I am very grateful with regards to the continued support Ben has provided in support of David’s legacy. In my experience, fundraising challenge events succeed thanks to the incredible dedication, resilience and will of participants to complete the task. It is clear that Ben embodies the aforementioned qualities within everything he does, both at Edinburgh Napier University and his spare time, and I am very much looking forward to running alongside him, once more, on 21 June 2019.”

The Captain David Seath Memorial Fund has raised over £290,000 and provided over two-hundred and fifty welfare grants to personnel and veterans of the British Armed Forces living with life-changing physical injuries and psychological trauma through Help for Heroes, the charity David was running for that tragic day.

All donations to the Captain David Seath Memorial Fund will now be 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. So whether your donation today helps a Veteran learn new skills and gain confidence, or supports a family respite day or enables Help for Heroes staff to be there when a Veteran is in need; you can be sure you’re helping local heroes in David’s name and memory.

Make a donation: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/cdsmflongestday50k

 

We are delighted to announce The Captain David Seath Memorial Fund’s proposal to support the development of Help for Heroes’ Fellowship Programme in Scotland has been approved.

The Fellowship Programme supports personnel and veterans, living with life-changing physical and psychological wounds, as well as their loved ones through their Band of Band of Brother/Band of Sister network across Scotland.

Personnel and veterans living with life-changing physical and psychological wounds receive life-long access to rehabilitation, sports therapy and psychological well-being support as well as the opportunity to engage with fellow personnel and veterans through a range of creative, sporting and social activities. 

Welfare support is provided to the loved ones supporting those who have encountered physical and psychological wounds through regular opportunities to meet others in similar circumstances as a means to build rapport and solidarity.

We offer our sincere thanks to Help for Heroes for approving our wishes to increase the impact of David’s legacy in Scotland and we look forward to providing updates in the future.

Please donate in support of the Captain David Seath Memorial Fund by clicking this link

We were delighted to learn recently that photography, produced by Captain David Seath Memorial Fund beneficiary Steve Mills, featured as part of #HelpforHeroes #CreativeForce #Exhibition.

The exhibition launched at Mall Galleries #London last year which showcased an emotive, visceral collection of photography, paintings and model-making, highlighting the power of creativity with regards to supporting recovery from life-changing physical and psychological wounds.

Steve exhibited a specific image, titled ‘My Safe Place‘, who said:

“The photograph I have chosen to exhibit is of my safe place. This is where I go when I need some time out. I have this photograph on my wall at home; sometimes just looking at it is enough to bring me back.

“Being creative gives me a focus, when I am out with my camera I lose all track of time. It enables me to get outside of my own head and forget what’s troubling me for a while.”

Our sincere congratulations to Steve; an inspirational story, demonstrating how #creativity can be accessed as a pathway towards recovery.

View online exhibition: https://bit.ly/2MqoaRt

We are delighted to announce that Gary Seath and his colleagues from Edinburgh Napier University will run 50 kilometres in one day on Friday 21 June 2019 in support of The Captain David Seath Memorial Fund.

Titled The Longest Day 50K Challenge, the group will complete ten parkrun routes across central Scotland on the day, 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 team is an integral part of the university’s values and, once more, we will work as a team to accomplish this considerable challenge as a means to raise money in support of the Captain David Seath Memorial Fund.”

#TeamNapier also includes a logistical support team of colleagues, who will also mobilise, once more, for this particular challenge event.

Gary continues:

“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 ensure our team are supported on the day with regards to logistics and moral support. We may not endorse power bars and pumpkin seeds but the the jam donuts, Haribo and kind words of encouragement is as integral to our success as the the dedication, commitment and endeavour we must show as a means to complete the Longest Day Challenge.

“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 veterans Ben Waite and Craig Shearer will join Gary one more for this year’s event, who said:

“It’s great to get behind such a worthy cause once again and 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 years challenge event.”

The Captain David Seath Memorial Fund has raised over £290,000 and provided over two-hundred and fifty welfare grants to personnel and veterans of the British Armed Forces living with life-changing physical injuries and psychological trauma through Help for Heroes, the charity David was running for that tragic day.

Further updates to follow! #CDSMF50KRUN #CDSMFLongestDay

Donate through Just Giving: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/cdsmflongestday50k

 

We offer our sincere thanks to 1145 Air Cadet Squadron, whose Burn Supper Ceilidh event, which was held at the Garvock House Hotel, Dunfermline, has raised over £1100 in support of The Captain David Seath Memorial Fund.

Captain David Seath served as a Cadet at 1145 Squadron during the early 2000’s, and it was the breadth of experiences gained as a cadet which developed his leadership skills, prior to studying at Aberdeen University and enrolling at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

David  later served his country with distinction in Afghanistan with 19th Regiment Royal Artillery (The Scottish Gunners), who operated in the Nahri Saraj district of Helmand Province in 2012 as part of Herrick 16. Captain Seath operated from Main Operation Base (MOB) Price and commanded artillery fire in support ground operations, led numerous combat patrols and delivered training support to Afghanistan Defence Forces.

Upon his return from Afghanistan, David successfully completed the All Arms Commando Course to earn the coveted Green Beret. He served in 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery as a Fire Team Support Commander. He would later embark on a tour of the Middle East where he oversaw the training of Kurdish special forces.

The funds will be used to support personnel and veterans, living with physical and psychological trauma through Help for Heroes. Since it was established, the Captain David Seath Memorial Fund has raised over £290,000 and supported over 250 beneficiaries rebuild their lives.

We warmly welcome runners, joggers and walkers of all ages and abilities to join us for the #CaptainDavidSeathMemorialFund 5K Run/Walk #fundraising #event at Pittencrieff Park #Dunfermline on Sunday 28 April 2019!

With ten weeks to go, there’s plenty of time to get fit and prepared! 🏃‍♂️🥇🥈🥉Book tickets 👉https://bit.ly/2VNB0y3