THE family of an Army hero from Dunfermline who died while running the London Marathon finished the distance in his memory at the weekend.

Captain David Seath, 31, had been running in aid of Help for Heroes when he collapsed three miles short of the finish. He was taken to hospital but sadly died.

He had hoped to raise £250 and, following his death, more than 11,500 people have donated around £200,000 to the charity via his JustGiving fundraising pages.

At midnight on Sunday, around 70 friends and family members – including brother Gary and parents Pete and Libby – met at the spot where he fell, to finish the final 3.2 miles of the marathon route.

The contingent included police officers and paramedics who had tended to Capt Seath on the day.

Gary, 33, told the Press: “The police officers who attended very kindly gave up their time to escort us around the route.

“We’ve taken great strength from the overwhelming support from family, friends and Army colleagues. It meant a lot that they came down.

“David touched the lives of so many. He was a loving, loyal and supportive brother, son, friend and colleague and it really is quite overwhelming that so many people have come forward to pay tribute and donate money in his memory.

“It’s been a horrific, traumatic time for us. All grieving is a process and to finish what David could not has provided a sense of closure. I ran the route with three others – I do a lot of running and David was a keen runner, so I felt it was only fitting to run it.

“It was very difficult and emotional to begin at the spot where he fell. We did need about 10 minutes to reflect but we were determined to finish what he wanted to complete.

“We were supported on the night and there was a huge wave of emotion as we finished.”

The family and Help For Heroes have now set up the Captain David Seath Memorial Fund to provide quick support to wounded service personnel needing rehabilitation, adaptations, and further training.

The fund has already made its first donation, by awarding a grant to a veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder to retrain in electrical testing and establish his own business.

Gary added: “We were delighted. It’s an important step for us as a family to hear that funds are already going out and helping people. Every penny of that £200,000 will go to support veterans directly.

“David believed passionately in helping wounded service personnel. He delivered a range of presentations to the Scottish War Blinded, which was another cause he believed in very strongly.”

Further fundraising is planned, with ideas ranging from skydives and ladies’ lunches to marathons.

To donate, log on to www.helpforheroes.org.uk/how-we-help/captain-david-seath-memorial-fund