Royal Marine David Hart, of 40 Commando, who was killed in an explosion in Afghanistan on 8^th July 2010, has left £100,000 to send his friends on a trip to Las Vegas.

Marine Hart, who lived with his parent Chris and Dilys in Upper Poppleton, took out the life insurance before deploying for Afghanistan. He wrote that in the event of his death, a portion of the policy proceeds should go to his friends and their girlfriends for a trip to Las Vegas in his memory.

32 of David’s friends are going on the trip and close friend Andy Hare, said: “He loved going away with his mates, it was always the best two weeks of the year. In his letter David said he had had a great life and had no regrets about anything. He always said he would do something like this if something bad happened.”

Since his death, David’s friends and family have been busy raising money for charities which help wounded servicemen and women. Dad Chris and sister Sarah as well as some of his friends will cycle 170 miles in September to raise cash for the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund (RMCTF).

A JustGiving webpage has been set up. To donate, visit justgiving.com/David-Hart

For find out other ways you can support the RMCTF click HERE