SAS trooper Lee Fitzsimmons was killed in Iraq last year when the helicopter he was in crashed and burst into flames while he was on an assignment near Baghdad.

This weekend, Lee's friends and family will take part in the Great Eastern Run in his memory.

Download PDF a map of the route for the Great Eastern Run 2008 (1.1MB file).

Great Eastern Run 2008: road closures around Peterborough

The half marathon takes place almost exactly a year to the day Trooper Fitzsimmons, who lived in Yaxley, near Peterborough, died.

Now, 13 of his former classmates at Stanground College will run alongside Lee's brother and cousin to raise money for a memorial bench and to support the Help for Heroes charity, which aims to help wounded servicemen.

The group has already raised more than £700 for the cause, and are hoping to add more to the pot in honour of "Fitzy".

Kristian Robinson (27), one of Trooper Fitzsimmons' classmates at school, will be one of the team racing round the 13.1-mile course.

He said: "We will all be wearing T-shirts with Lee's photo on them, and the words 'Fitzy – Hero', because that's what Lee was.

"He was also a great mate.

"He used to have to go to some of the most dangerous places in the world, and all he would say is 'I'm off to Iraq – see you in six months' and make light of it.

"And then when he got back he was always the first on the phone wanting to meet up and go for a drink.

"We think this is a great way to celebrate Lee's life, and to take the positive's rather than the negatives."

The team of 15 said they had chosen to take part in the run to raise money, as it was something that Lee had enjoyed doing in his time off.

Mr Robinson, from Hampton, Peterborough, said: "He was a very keen runner, and placed highly in the Yaxley 7 running races, so this was a very suitable thing for us to do.

"I think he would be surprised we were all getting off our backsides and doing something like this, but he would love it – he would like to be remembered, I think.

"It is going to be a tough run for some of us, but his memory will keep us all going.

"Afterwards, I think we will all go to Lee's mum's house to celebrate with a couple of beers."

Anyone who wishes to sponsor the 15 should visit www.justgiving.com/great easternrunforfitzy2008