'We are determined to show Chris did not die in vain,' says mum

CHRIS'S mum Tina Young and his stepfather, Steve Young, were left devastated after his death, but are determined to show he was not killed in vain.

The couple have agreed to support the new Guardsman Chris King Memorial Fund, which will raise money for Help For Heroes and the North Devon Army Cadets, and are urging the people of North Devon to support it in any way they can.

The fund is being supported by the Journal , which will be one of the trustees.

Tina said: "While Chris was away in Afghanistan, a colleague and friend of his had his legs blown off in an explosion.

"Chris called me soon after the incident and said that if I was ever going to raise money for a charity it had to be Help For Heroes.

"It meant a lot to him and his regiment and I want to show them that we are not only thinking about them but actively doing something to support their efforts.

"It's not until you have first hand experience of the terrible consequences of war that you can fully appreciate the efforts made by charities like Help For Heroes — they are amazing."

Chris was himself an Army Cadet in North Devon, attending the Braunton branch from the age of 13.

Chris's stepfather, Steve, believes that the organisation is a valuable asset for young people in North Devon and deserves extra support.

He said: "It's a fantastic group that gives youngsters in North Devon something positive to do as well as teaching them how to respect others.

"Chris always had a great time at Cadets and it helped develop his love of outdoor activities."

Since Chris's death, Tina and Steve have been inundated with letters of support from all over the country — including a touching note from Prince Charles who is Colonel-in-Chief of the Welsh Guards.

The couple keep the letters in a box along with the sympathy cards and press cuttings they have collected over the past few weeks.

Tina said: "It has been amazing how many people have sent their condolences. As well as high-ranking Army officers, friends and colleagues, we even had a letter from the Mayor of Wirral where Chris was born.

"The news of his funeral was splashed all over the national papers and it was a bit of a shock to see my picture everywhere.

"However, I'm just so proud of Chris that I don't mind the media coverage — I want the whole world to know what a hero he was."

Tina explained that Chris was very much an "outdoors person" who enjoyed all sorts of activities, from fishing and shooting to surfing and rock climbing.

She said: "I would love to see people organising fun, outdoors events to raise money for the fund — that's just what he would have wanted.

"I know that if he were here today and it had been one of his friends who had died, he would be actively involved.

"Chris's regiment is due back in the UK for two weeks in September and several members have contacted me saying they would like to come and visit his grave.

"I want to be able to show them what we are doing for them so they can go back and spread the word. It's very important to their morale and they love hearing that we haven't forgotten about them."