LEXINGTON, Ky, --- The University of Kentucky Police department delivered donations recently for its 2nd annual toy drive, in honor of Jonathan Ard, a Lexington native and Iraq war veteran who died in 2016.

Ard, was a member of the Army Special Forces who was diagonosed with leukemia after being exposed to toxic burn pits and depleted uranium during his tours in Iraq.

Ard's family tells Spectrum News 1 that shopping for toys at Christmas was one of Jonathan's favorite pastimes and now they honor his memory, by hosting a toy drive each year, for patients at Kentucky Children's Hospital.

The Ard family says they plan to continue this tradition again next year.