Lee Rigby’s son speaks publicly about his father’s death for the first time British News
Lee Rigby’s son has spoken publicly about his father’s death for the first time and said he wants to mark the 10th anniversary of his deathth anniversary by raising £10,000 for charity.
Jack was just two years old when he attended the Royal Fusilier’s military funeral, wearing a t-shirt with the heartbreaking tribute “My Daddy My Hero”.
Drummer Lee, 25, was mowed down and hacked to death on May 22, 2013 in front of a horrified crowd at his barracks in Woolwich, south-east London.
The murder shocked the nation, and the image of one of his killers, Michael Adebolajo, holding a cleaver in his blood-soaked hands went around the world and etched itself in the memories of all who followed the story.
Despite his tender age, Jack was so devastated by the trauma that he lost the ability to speak for months. Now, as he prepares to celebrate 10 years without his dad, he has spoken publicly for the first time.
He wants to run and run a marathon over the course of a month to raise money for the charity Scotty’s Little Soldiers, which supports young people who have experienced the death of a parent who served in the military.
“I aim to raise £1,000 for every year that my dad is gone and would love to raise £10,000 for the 10th anniversary,” Jack told the Mirror.
He revealed how exercise helps him deal with his grief, saying it “takes my mind off everything” and “reminds me that not everything is bad”.
His mother and Lee’s widow, Rebecca, 40, said: “Jack wanted to do something positive in his father’s memory. He wants to show that even though he grew up without Lee, he hasn’t forgotten his father.”
She described how proud she is of her son “in everything he does,” adding, “I think Lee would be too.”
During their trial at the Old Bailey, jurors heard Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale, armed with eight knives and an old handgun, wait outside the barracks for a soldier to be killed.
Lee, instantly recognizable in his Help for Heroes hoodie and army daypack, was followed for a short distance before being run over at high speed and knocked unconscious.
The pair spent the next three minutes butchering Lee and inflicting a series of horrific injuries on him before dragging his body into the middle of the street.
Adebolajo then read out a prepared political statement justifying the horrific murder while brave passers-by challenged them and tried to comfort Lee.
Both were later sentenced to life imprisonment, and ringleader Adebolajo told him he would never be released.
In a moving victim statement read at the sentencing hearing, Rebecca said: “Of all the feelings I have, the only thing that outweighs everything else is that I know that my son will grow up and see pictures of his father who no son should ever see.’ I have to endure it and there’s nothing I can do to change it.’
Scotty’s founder, Nikki Scott, told the Mirror: “Jack is an incredible young man. He’s been through so much and we’re glad Scotty’s was able to support him.”
On his fundraising page on the charity’s website, Jack writes that he’s been a member since 2013 and “has been a proud member ever since” – and even names his dog Scotty.
He adds, “Now I want to give back to Scotty’s and with your donation, we can help Scotty’s continue to support hundreds of grieving military children like me.”
To help Jack achieve his goal, click here.
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