A family from Dorset have set a charity challenge for people to complete in honour of their son.
John Thornton was a Royal Marine who was killed in Afghanistan in March of 2008, less than two weeks before his 23rd birthday.
The family started a charity after his death to support youth organisations across Dorset and Wiltshire, which has already raised over a million pounds.
But in the lead-up to John’s 40th Birthday, his family want people to do 40 of any task to raise some money.
John’s father, Pete Thornton, said: “It can be playing 40 holes of golf, baking 40 cupcakes in a day; anything to raise a minimum of 40 pounds.”
The John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation help fund young people to pursue their ambitions.
John wanted to become a Royal Marine when he was 13 years old and was appointed to the corps aged 20.
After being sent out with 40 Commando Royal Marines to serve in Afghanistan, John was killed two weeks before he was due to return to his family in Ferndown.
Now, his family want to carry on John’s legacy by establishing the ’40 For JT’ fundraiser.
The challenge involves completing a task around the number 40 and has been picked up by some local schools.
The fundraiser will run from the 29th of March to John’s birthday on the 12th of April.
The charity has supported over 2,500 young people and 200 group projects since its formation, some of which John attended on his journey to be an officer in the marines.
And the foundation’s chair, Pete Thornton is hopeful that he can help more young people achieve their dreams.
Thornton added: “I’d like to like to raise about £5000 in total. But even if it’s only 50p, that’s 50p more than we had yesterday.”
For more information about the fundraiser, click here.
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