ALMOST £20,000 has been raised in memory of a Poole firefighter by his family with more fundraising events this month.

Carla Shears, wife to Jim Shears, will be running a marathon event for the fourth consecutive year, this time at the New Forest Half Marathon on Sunday, September 22, in memory of her husband.

Jim died along with his colleague, Alan Bannon, in April 2010 whilst attending a tower block blaze in Southampton. Since their tragic deaths, Carla has been joined by friends and family to raise money for The Fire Fighters Charity, totalling £19, 250 so far.

Her father-in-law, Ed, Jim’s dad, has now also joined the family fundraising team, by signing up for his first parachute jump on October 4, 2013.

He said: “I’m raising money for the Stephen Hunt Memorial Fund, set up in memory of a firefighter from Greater Manchester who died in July this year whilst dealing with a shop fire.

Ed added: “When we had our James Shears Memorial Fund, it was amazing the amount of support we received and now it would be nice to help someone else as we were helped.

“People don’t realise how close firefighters are. They are not just a team, but more like brothers looking out for one another.”

Carla says that her first half marathon was done just a week before Jim died, and his pride in her has kept her continuing her charitable mission.

She said: “Some of Jim’s colleagues from Red Watch in Southampton will be taking part, two in full firefighter kit and another two in normal running gear.

“We have around 16 people running this year, and I think Jim would be astounded at what we have done and still continue to do.

“I am very grateful to everyone who has helped us and been part of Team Jim.”

Sponsorship forms to support Ed can be found at The New Inn, at 222 Wimborne Road, Oakdale, or The Pilot, 1 Adastral Square, Canford Heath, and all Dorset and Southampton fire stations.

For more information, go Justgiving.com/TeamJim2013