A FORMER school friend of a soldier who lost his legs in a suicide bombing in Iraq is joining a Daily Echo campaign to buy him new limbs.

Let's Help Neil was launched to support the Neil Heritage Fund, which was set up by colleagues of the 24-year-old following the incident in Baghdad last November.

Neil, from Hamworthy, Poole, lost both legs above the knee instantly and now spends weekdays at a military rehabil-itation centre in London before travelling home to partner Claire Renshaw and her son Callum, five, at week-ends.

More than £5,000 has already been raised towards our £30,000 target which would buy Neil high-tech prosthetic limbs to replace the ones he was given on the NHS.

His colleagues at London-based Explosive Ordnance Disposal are also collecting cash for adaptations to the family's home.

Kevin Clark, 24, contacted the Daily Echo after reading about Neil's plight.

He said: "I went to school with Neil and I used to play football with him. I haven't seen him since school but when you see one of your friends go through that you don't wish it on anybody.

"It touched me when I saw it in the paper. You hear in the news about things like that happening to other people, but when it's someone you know it's completely different."

Sunseeker International employ-ee Kevin, from Park-stone, is signing up to take part in a sponsored walk organised by Nuffield Tops Day Nursery, where Claire works, on Sunday May 15.

The eight-mile fund-raiser leaves Bournemouth Pier for Hengistbury Head at 10am. Anyone wanting to take part can turn up on the day and pay the £1 entry fee.

IF you would like to donate send cheques payable to Neil Heritage Fund to: Lorraine May, Daily Echo, Richmond Hill, Bournemouth, BH2 6HH.

First published: April 6