Teenager Poppy Gibson is taking on the Great South Run in memory of her father, who died in Iraq when she was just seven years old.

Flight sergeant Mark Gibson was on board an RAF Hercules when it was shot down by suspected Sunni insurgents in Iraq in January 2005.

Nearly a decade on, the 16-year-old, of Old Shaw Lane in Swindon, will take on the ten-mile Portsmouth race next Sunday, to raise money for the Forces Children’s Trust. The charity supported her and her mother after the tragedy.

She said: “I was only seven at the time, so I didn’t really understand that much. I just knew mum was very upset.

“I didn’t really have the chance to spend much time with him, to be able to say that I had some memories of him.

“Being in the RAF meant he had to go away a lot and he did used to miss birthdays, Christmas, other crucial family occasions like that.

“I know that he came here when my aunt ran [the Great South] and I think he would be really proud of what I’m doing.

“I am a bit nervous about it. I wanted to do it because I don’t really do a lot of long-distance running and I thought it would be a bit of a challenge.”

Shortly after her father’s death, the Forces Children’s Trust and its founder, Denny Wise, began work with Poppy, who now attends Dauntsey’s School in West Lavington.

She said: “The Forces Children’s Trust offers support to families and children whose parent has died or sustained life-threatening injuries in the forces. They put on lots of activities and you meet other children who have been through the same thing.

“Denny has become a bit of a father figure to me and I just wanted to do something to raise money and give back to the Forces Children’s Trust.”

Poppy’s mother, Sheila Griffiths-Gibson, said: “I am so proud of her. She does still keep her emotions in check around me and tries not to say anything that might upset me.”

Poppy will be running with her cousin, Emily, aunts Nick and Nell, and uncle Robin.

To sponsor Poppy, go to www.justgiving.com/Poppy-Gibson