THE MOTHER of an Abergavenny soldier who died after being wounded in Afghanistan said last night she is overwhelmed by the £4,000 already raised by a charity launched in his memory.
Hazel Hunt’s son, Private Richard Hunt, died aged 21 in August from injuries he sustained from a bomb attack while on vehicle patrol - the 200th to do so in the Afghan conflict.
The charity was set up in his memory just two weeks ago.
Mrs Hunt and her family and friends founded The Richard Hunt Foundation to help wounded servicemen and their families by funding holidays, adapting their homes and opening an outdoor activity centre for injured soldiers at their home run by Richard's sister Fe, 17.
Mrs Hunt said: "It’s been a very good start. I’ve had people sending me cheques and coming up to me in the street and handing me money.
"People who don’t even know us have been in contact and donated. One woman sent a Christmas card saying she was thinking about us at this time of year."
Mrs Hunt’s hairdresser Jean Jones, who works at Cutting Crew in Abergavenny, donated £100 and the town’s Get Connected store gave the £100 prize money it got from its controversial mobile phone nativity display - with staff doubling the donation to £200.
A group of soldiers from the 3rd Battalion The Royal Welsh donated £200 they earned being standard bearers at Pte Hunt’s funeral, Ringland Senior Citizen’s Club raised £500 and Barclays Bank’s Abergavenny branch is fundraising through its Christmas raffle.
Future fundraising events will include a family fun day at Bailey Park on May 15, a live music night at The Market Tavern on January 29 and the South Wales Three Peaks challenge on March 27.
To donate or for more information visit www.welshwarrior.co.uk
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