Cheers greet charity walk in Royston

CHEERS greeted a mother who lost her son in Afghanistan when she arrived in Royston leading a charity walk.

Christine Bonner’s soldier son Darren was killed in 2007 and every year since 2008 she has pounded 150 miles across Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Essex – the counties the Royal Anglian Regiment traditionally recruits its troops, and which her son served with.

The 56-year-old said: “The reception coming into Royston was fantastic, it’s lovely to see people turning up to welcome you in.”

“It’s very tough because it becomes very emotional. There have been times when you feel you want to give up and I feel like I get a heavy kick up the backside from my son telling me to carry on. ”

Ms Bonner was joined by soldiers from the regiment for the All the 4s walk and has raised more than �187,000 for the Royal Anglian Regiment Benevolent Charity.

She hopes to break the �200,000 mark this year.