Soldier mum's great charity walk (From Thurrock Gazette)

Soldier mum's great charity walk

3:00pm Saturday 1st September 2012 in News

A WOMAN whose son was killed in action in Afghanistan has told how walking for charity keeps her going.

Christine Bonner lost her son Corporal Darren Bonner in 2007, and every year since she has organised a 150-mile walk around the country to raise funds for the Royal Anglian Regiment Benevolent Charity.

The walk brought Christine, and the soldiers who had accompanied her for the last 139 miles, from Billericay through to Thurrock on Friday.

Christine said: “I’ve been doing this for five years now, it really help me cope with the loss of Darren. I think he’d laugh if he knew what I was doing, he’d say ‘what the hell is mum up to now?’

“I have three daughters and they tell me he would be really proud. When I first lost my son, I was very angry and heartbroken, it was killing me.

“I didn’t know what to do with myself, then I spoke to Darren’s colonel and told him how I felt, and he said, well doing something. All I can do is walk, so that’s how it came about.”

Over the last five years Christine, from West Yorkshire, has raised £187,000 for the charity, and is hoping this year’s walk, which started in Luton and finished in Brentwood on Saturday, will see that total go even higher.

A host of politicians joined Christine and the soldiers, pictured above, as they made their way to Thurrock Council’s offices in Grays for a presentation by mayor Yash Gupta.

Among them were both of Thurrock’s Conservative MPs. East Thurrock’s Stephen Metcalfe called Christine “inspirational” adding: “This walk highlights the bravery of our service personnel serving abroad.

“It’s a great way to honour Darren’s death and a wonderful example of turning tragedy into triumph.”

Jackie Doyle-Price, MP for Thurrock, added: “We’re very pleased to show our support for her and the Royal Anglian Regiment.”

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