WHEN firefighter Julian Parsons' 15-year-old daughter Charlotte was killed in a car accident three years ago his family was devastated.

The police suggested the grieving family contact RoadPeace, a charity that provides counselling, information and support for the victims of road accidents.

Station Officer Parsons, 37, said RoadPeace has helped his family come to terms with its grief and start the painful process of rebuilding their lives.

Now Mr Parsons, from Yatton Keynell, wants to put something back into the charity, which has helped him put his life back together.

In a fortnight Mr Parsons and his colleague Station Officer Ade Hurren, 43, are taking part in Weston-super-Mare's annual Christmas Crackers run to raise cash for the charity.

But to stoke up the interest in the challenge the duo will be running the ten kilometre course in full fire fighting kit, complete with steel soled boots, helmet and fire retardant tunic and trousers.

Mr Parsons, who is currently based at Chippenham Fire Station, said: "RoadPeace was just an invaluable service to us. Although it is a national charity it is quite small and it was able to put us in contact with other families who have experienced bereavements.

"We have taken a lot out of the organisation and we are still in contact with them, so we thought it was time to put something back in."

Charlotte was killed when the Vauxhall Astra in which she and two friends were travelling was involved in a head-on collision with a Fiat Uno on the B4039 near to where she lived at Tiddlywink, Yatton Keynell, just after 6pm on May 17, 2000.

Mr Parsons' daughter, who was a pupil at Sheldon School, in Chippenham, died of her injuries at Bath's Royal United Hospital.

Mr Parsons also has 14-year-old son, Callum.

Mr Hurren, of Hereford Close, Chippenham, who has two daughters Emma, 11, and Lucy, 9, said: "The accident happened when Jools was working here in Chippenham so we were stunned by what happened and have tried to support him."

Anyone interested in sponsoring the pair can telephone Mr Parsons at Trowbridge Fire Station on (01225) 756501 or Mr Hurren at Chippenham Fire Station on (01249) 445110. Sponsorship sheets are also available in the Gazette's office, in the Market Place, in Chippenham.