AFTER raising more than £250,000 since his death, the family of a West Fife Army captain who died tragically while running the London Marathon last year are now looking forward to more fundraising events in 2017.

A military-themed golf day is to be held in St Andrews to raise money for the Captain David Seath Memorial Fund while it is hoped a 5k run in Dunfermline will also take place in April.

Since setting up the memorial fund just weeks after David’s death, the Seath family has been overwhelmed with the response and brother Gary said they planned to continue their efforts.

“I established the Captain David Seath Memorial Fund in May in partnership with Help the Heroes and we were very fortunate that we managed to get money working very fast,” he told the Press.

“Within four weeks of David’s tragic death, the first financial grant had been provided.

“We have surpassed the quarter of a million pounds mark and we have supported over 150 wounded, injured and sick personnel and veterans.

“We have received letters of thanks from several beneficiaries and when you read these very personal notes of thanks, you feel a range of emotions.

"It is a real positive feeling that we did the right thing in establishing the fund and his legacy is making a huge difference to the lives of veterans.”

The response from family, friends and the local and wider community has also been a great help to Gary and his family.

“It has been a real positive light through the darkness and tragedy and devastation and it is very important to offer a sincere thanks to those who have donated funds as well as whose who have organised or attended fundraising events last year,” he said.

“Without the support we have received, there would have been no legacy and we are very grateful. Moving forward, ensuring David’s legacy continues is very important to us.

“Christmas has been a very difficult time for us all. It was very much a time of reflection whilst trying to uphold some festive cheer of the season but I think, moving forward now we have started 2017, it is important to focus on the work ahead of us and the fundraising activities.”

Gary said they were currently talking to Fife Council about the possibility of holding a 5k run in Pittencrieff Park on April 23 – the day before the first anniversary of David’s death.

Plans are also well under way for a golf day at Fairmont golf course in St Andrews on August 31 which will be hosted by Sky Sports presenter David Tanner.

Gary said they were keen to ensure the event was a “fitting tribute” to David.

“It is going to very much have an artillery theme considering David was an officer in the 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery,” he said. “There will be an 105mm cannon to start the teams off and that is like what you see at Edinburgh Castle.

“We are also going to set up a range of military forward observation posts around the course and competition holes are going to be military-themed as well.”

In choosing to have a golf day, Gary said they were continuing their efforts to hold events which his brother would have had an interest in.

“Our family play golf fairly regularly and David was late to the field in terms of golf,” he said.

“He only recently took it up about 18 months ago so my mum and myself would take David to the driving range and teach him how to play.

“Being a commander, he had a lot of strength and it was trying to harness that strength and making sure he hit the ball relatively straight!”

More information on the golf day or the Captain David Seath Memorial Fund can be obtained on the fund’s Facebook site at https://www.facebook.com/CaptainDavidSeath.