Collins, who would have turned 33 on Tuesday, died in March of this year with an inquest hearing he took his own life due to suffering with issues around his mental health.
A hugely popular player throughout his career, it all began for Telford-born Collins at Molineux, where he came through the Wolves Academy and was one of the stars of the run to the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup in the 2004/05 season when he marked Southampton’s Theo Walcott.
He was also an unused substitute for the first team on three occasions before moving on and making almost 500 career appearances for several different clubs.
One of his lifelong friends Joshua Feehan and former Wolves Academy scholar Nathan Rooney are now organising a series of 10km runs in a bid to raise £10,000 to be shared between Lee’s three daughters and the Movember charity which supports men’s mental health and suicide prevention.
The challenge kicked off recently ahead of a home game for AFC Telford and, after tomorrow’s run around the outskirts of Molineux, there are dates scheduled for the eight other clubs Collins represented, finishing with his most recent, Yeovil Town, next May.
“We know things have got better in recent years but I still think men’s mental health isn’t really talked about enough and this is a really good platform to do more about it,” says Josh, who is now blind after losing his sight during his teenage years but is taking on the challenge with guide dog, Ringo.
“It is obviously such sad circumstances but it is nice that the whole football community at the clubs Lee played for are getting involved and showing their support.
“In the first instance it is about raising funds and awareness for the mental health charity and if we raise enough just to help stop one other person taking their life it will have been worthwhile.
“But it is also about doing something that his family can be proud of and showing his Mum and his three daughters what their Dad meant to so many people.
“He was such a great lad, and that just comes across when all of us meet up again and talk about all the good times that we shared.
“Of all the time I knew Lee, the one thing I always remember is that ever since I lost my vision he never once asked me any questions about my sight loss.
“He just knew me as me, nothing had changed, and we just got on with it.
“Let’s be honest he didn’t have the best dress sense but he was a brilliant bloke and had time for everyone.
“He is so sorely missed and I still get a bit tearful talking about him but we want to carry on showing his daughters what he was like and trying to keep the positive memories going.”
Rooney, a midfielder, was in Wolves Academy at the same time as Collins and, although three years younger, made his debut in the same team.
“When I was in the academy I used to travel in with Lee and Elliott and Kyle Bennett as we all lived in Telford,” said Rooney.
“They were such good days and good memories and I remember Lee was in the team when I made my debut for the Under-18s.
“Everyone who knew Lee was so devastated with what happened and all really feel for his family and his three girls.
“These challenges will hopefully help them out a little bit as well as showing the importance of mental health by raising funds and awareness for the Movember charity.”
Elliott Bennett has already backed the campaign by donating a signed shirt from striker Ben Brereton who plays for his former club Blackburn and is a Chile international.
Wolves are also donating a signed shirt for the fundraising and an interview with Joshua and Nathan about the challenge after they have finished at Molineux is set to be shown on the big screen at half time of Saturday’s game.
To donate to the fundraiser and keep in touch with the progress of the 10km challenges click here.
