IT'S an activity that promotes health and mental wellbeing but now yoga has benefited the Captain David Seath Memorial Fund with a significant cash boost.

The fund, which was started by the Crossgates man's brother Gary last year, teamed up with teacher training school Jyoti Yoga to host a 'Yogathon' event that raised more than £1,200 for the charity.

The cash, which will support personnel and veterans of the armed forces living with life-changing physical and psychological trauma, takes the total raised by the fund to more than £260,000 since its launch in May 2016.

Jyoti Yoga, which was formed last year and is directed by Morag Wilson, Sue Turner and Carmelina Griffin, creates pathways and opportunities for people across all sectors of the community to experience the health, mental wellness and the holistic value of yoga.

Participants completed 108 rounds of the traditional sun sequence – which equates to around 2,100 yoga postures – and Captain Seath's mum, Libby, commented: "Sunday's Yogathon was an absolutely amazing day; the perfect culmination to a year's training with Morag Wilson's JYOTI teacher training school.

"Morag has been my yoga tutor for over 17 years and suggested the fundraiser a few months ago. Everyone embraced the idea and there was a real sense of fun on the day with several people dressing up!

"I want to extend a huge thank-you to Morag, Carmelina and Sue, the tutors and to all my fabulous companion teachers that have shown me such love and support during the last year. Thanks also, to all those who have shown their support, in donating money to help wounded injured and sick veterans, who will then be supported to rebuild their lives with grants from The Captain David Seath Memorial Fund and Help for Heroes."

Captain Seath, from Crossgates, was an officer of 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery but lost his life in April 2016 after he suffered a cardiac arrest three miles short of the finishing line while running the London Marathon in aid of Help for Heroes.

The charity fund bearing his name has gone on to support more than 200 beneficiaries rebuild their lives through Help for Heroes, and Gary said: "Positive health and well-being is one of the fundamental pillars of yoga. As an Officer in 29 Commando Regiment RA, David also believed passionately in supporting the positive health and well-being of the troops under his command, both on operations in Afghanistan, the Middle East and at home.

Another interesting commonality is mental preparation, which is so important prior to embarking on tours of duty as well as developing coping mechanisms for combat stress as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

"Many of our beneficiaries are in a much better place, both emotionally and physically, thanks to the financial support they have received from The Captain David Seath Memorial Fund and we offer our sincere thanks to Jyoti Yoga, who also work ever so hard in promoting positive health and well-being within the local community."