Mrs Christine Bonner is the mother of Corporal Darren Bonner who was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2007 whilst serving with 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment.
Her sponsored walk, which began on Friday 14 August 2009, is intended to last ten days and cover 150 miles (241km) through five English counties.
Along with Mrs Bonner, soldiers from the regiment are taking part in the walk to raise money for the Royal Anglian Regiment Benevolent Charity which provides money for serving or former members of the Royal Anglian Regiment and their dependants who are in need, hardship or distress.
She is calling her walk 'All the 4s' - '4 the boys', '4 the families', '4 the fallen', '4 ever'.
Mrs Bonner said:
"In May 2007 my eldest child and only son, Corporal Darren Bonner, was killed in a landmine explosion in southern Afghanistan. My whole world fell apart and my life was changed forever. How was I ever to carry on bearing this terrible pain?
"But I had to keep it together for my three daughters who had also lost their big brother. Feeling that I had to do something positive for Darren, I organised a walk in honour of the nine soldiers that we lost in 2007.
"Since 1964 my regiment has lost 69 soldiers killed on duty in Aden, Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan. We have lost 13 soldiers in the past three years alone: nine killed in action in Afghanistan, two killed in action in Iraq and two killed in training accidents. Many more have been injured on operations, some very grievously."
Captain Ty Smith
"So in July 2008 myself and other mums, family members and soldiers from the 1st Battalion took to the highways from Pirbright, Surrey, to Duxford, Cambridgeshire, raising money for the 1st Battalion's Afghanistan Memorial Appeal.
"I recently decided that I would like to organise another walk, but this time open it up to the whole of the Royal Anglian Regiment, enabling other similarly affected people to share in this special experience. So with all the help I could possibly wish for from the regiment, the 'All the 4s' walk has come to be."
Captain Ty Smith is leading the Royal Anglian soldiers who are walking with Mrs Bonner on 'All the 4s'. He said:
"Since 1964 my regiment has lost 69 soldiers killed on duty in Aden, Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan. We have lost 13 soldiers in the past three years alone: nine killed in action in Afghanistan, two killed in action in Iraq and two killed in training accidents. Many more have been injured on operations, some very grievously.
"We have Royal Anglian soldiers serving in harm's way today and my 3rd Battalion [Steelbacks] are just deploying a further 65 Territorial Army soldiers to Afghanistan for six months. The regiment's 2nd Battalion [Poachers], who got back from Iraq in November 2008, are already training for possible future deployments, and our 1st Battalion [Vikings], who lost nine soldiers in action in Afghanistan in 2007, are doing the same. So sadly, there is every chance that the toll of regimental casualties will increase."
Corporal Mark Ellis from the Vikings is also taking part in 'All the 4s'. He said:
"Deployments on operations a long way from home can be tough physically and mentally. Some of the lads get injuries that will affect them for the rest of their lives and we will be there to support them for as long as we are needed. So any donations, however large or small, will help us to meet the future needs of our soldiers and their families who have given so much in serving the crown and the country."
Colour Sergeant 'Mario' Correa from the Poachers said:
"'All the 4s' will be a really tough walk through the heart of the East Midlands regimental area. It will hopefully raise funds to enable the regiment to continue to support the boys and their families at war, at home, or resting in peace.
"I hope that it will also demonstrate to the lads that members of the public really do care about their welfare and the difficult and dangerous job that they are called upon to do in these very dangerous times."
The 'All the 4s' set out from North Lincolnshire on Friday 14 August 2009. Over ten days, including the weekends, the walkers will pass through the five counties of Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, ending each day's hiking in Lincoln, Grantham, Belvoir Castle, Leicester, Northampton, Bedford, Harpenden and Stevenage, respectively, finishing in Hertford town centre on Sunday 23 August 2009.
In order to encourage maximum participation and subsequent sponsorship, the opportunity exists for members of the public to join the walk, on any day, to complete a leg; or if desired to complete any number of legs on different days. Legs will be between 10-20 miles (16-32km) in length.
If you want to sponsor the walk see their website at Related Links >>>