Family of Team GB fell runner Chris Smith sets up grant scheme for runners

• The family of Chris Smith, a Team GB fell runner who died when running in Scotland in October, has set up a memorial fund in his name.

• The fund will support runners with grants for travel, kit, club membership, or other sport-related costs

The family of former Team GB athlete Chris Smith, who died while running on holiday, have set up a memorial fund for runners in his name.

The fund 'will be set up as a charitable trust, with its objective to facilitate the advancement of running related sport, with a particular focus on hill running, via the provision of grants to aspiring athletes', according to a post on the fund's Facebook page.

The post continues: 'These grants could help to fund travel to a key race, pay for new kit, cover membership to a running club, or any other way that ultimately supports those that want to develop in the sport.'

Smith, who was 43, was on holiday with his wife and sons in Perthshire when he set out to run Meall nan Aighean, Carn Mairg, Meall Garbh and Carn Gorm, on October 27. He was due back at around 5pm that afternoon but when he didn’t return, the police were called. After a three-day search, his body was found. An inquest has since heard that Smith died of hypothermia brought on by exposure.

He was described by his family as ‘an experienced mountain runner’, but when he failed to return from his run, they expressed concerns that ‘he may have become disorientated and ended up further afield’, and raised the alarm.

Smith represented Great Britain in a number of international mountain-running competitions. In 2016, he helped Team GB win a bronze medal in the European Mountain Running Championships. He was originally from Aberdeenshire, but lived in Haywards Heath, Sussex, where he was a member of Thames Valley Harriers.

After his death, Smith’s family set up a fundraiser, which will now be rolled into the new charitable trust. On the fundraising site, his family said he died ‘doing what he loved’.

'We know that Chris will live on in his two sons, his family, and all those who knew him. We also know he had so much more he would have given had he still been with us and so we would like to find a way to continue his presence in the world of running. It's early days in our planning for this; depending on how much we raise this could be an event, a charitable donation, sponsorship of aspiring athletes or something else entirely. What we do know is that we will do everything we can to ensure it is a fitting tribute to Chris' his family wrote.

Runners can donate to the foundation here.

Smith's teammates have also paid tribute for the runner:

Fellow GB team-mate Sarah Tunstall said to the World Mountain Running Association, 'I am overwhelmingly saddened by the tragic news of Chris's death. It is hard to put into words, his infectious enthusiasm for the sport and impact that would have on inspiring the team and individual athletes. He was a true gent, selfless team mate and fantastic athlete who always left everything out there on race day. I have countless fond memories of Chris and am privileged to have shared poignant moments in both our running careers, that will forever make me smile. It is a tremendous loss for anyone who knew him, and all my thoughts are with his wife and family at this devastating time.'

Our thoughts are with Chris' family and friends at this hard time.

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