The family of a young footballer who died after suffering an asthma attack are taking part in a fundraiser to mark what would have been his 16th birthday.

Joshua Goodwin was eight when he fell ill while playing for Range Rovers FC on August 8, 2007 – almost seven years ago.

For many years, his family ran a foundation in his name to buy equipment for sufferers such as nebulisers and support asthma charities.

During its time, it raised more than £30,000 but they wound it up a few years ago.

On September 10 Joshua would have celebrated his milestone birthday and to commemorate that, his family has decided to join in with the 10k Back 2 the Trenches Mud Run No Man’s Land.

It takes place on September 21 in London and they hope to raise at least £500 for Asthma UK.

Participants are warned they will get wet, muddy and pushed to exhaustion during the obstacle course challenge.

More than 10 friends and family will be taking part in a team called the Sheppey Swampies, including his mum Carla Goodwin, of Copland Avenue, Minster.

The 34-year-old said: “We haven’t done anything for charity for a while so we thought it would be fun and then everyone came on board as they wanted to mark his birthday which was really nice.

“When I think about [Joshua] I still think about him as being eight but he would have been leaving school and everything.”

She also revealed they have purchased one of the memorial trees at Minster Abbey in her son’s name and they expect it to be planted around the same time as his birthday.

Joshua’s nan Sharon Jones said: “Although we had to give up running the charity, it doesn’t take away the tragic circumstances in which we lost Joshy or how much we all still miss him – that pain is still there, it’s just we have learnt coping strategies to enable us to talk about him now without too much crying.”

• To sponsor them, visit www.justgiving.com/Sheppey-Swampies