RUNNER Jason Willmott had an exhausting and emotional day when he completed the Bournemouth half marathon in memory of two people close to his heart.

The kind-hearted father-of-two had already planned to honour the memory of his father by running in full combat gear and carrying a 30lb Army backpack.

But when his friend Christopher Gibbs died in a crash less than a week before the event, he decided to pay tribute to him too.

Christopher was due to run the half marathon with Jason and mutual friend Shane Culwick so his race number had already been delivered.

Jason wore his own number but also pinned Christopher’s number to his back so he could take it across the finish line and collect his medal.

“I met Chris in the summer when we both took part in the Ultra White Collar Boxing event for Cancer Research UK and we decided to run the half marathon” said Jason.

“Chris had enjoyed the boxing training and it was one of his goals to run the half marathon so it seemed fitting to wear his number and collect his medal for his family.”

Jason said the event was “brutally tough, both physically and emotionally” but added: “It was a challenge Chris wanted to take part in.”

Jason’s father, Leslie, who served in the Army for more than 25 years, died in 2014.

Christopher Gibbs, 30, from Poole, died in a hit-and-run crash on the southbound carriageway of the A338 Spur Road on Tuesday last week.

His bicycle was in collision with a van, which was later found abandoned on the Nursling industrial estate in Southampton.

Mr Gibbs’ father, Rob Barron, thanked the many people who have paid tribute to his son.

In a post on Facebook he wrote: “My wife and I would also like to say a massive thank you to the myriad family, friends and even people we’ve never met who have been moved by this story who have sent beautiful messages of love and support and prayers.”

A 57-year-old man from Southampton was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and failing to stop at the scene of a collision. A 57-year-old woman, also from Southampton, was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. Both have since been released under investigation.