The son of murdered Fusilier Lee Rigby has won a Pride of Britain Award after raising more than £107,000 in a tribute to his father.
In a crime that shocked the nation, Fusilier Rigby, 25, was mowed down close to his army barracks in Woolwich, southeast London and then hacked to death with a meat cleaver in May 2013.
His son, Jack, who was only two years old at the time of his father’s horrific murder has only recently spoke publicly about the impact it has had on him.
This year, the now 13-year-old schoolboy from Halifax, West Yorkshire, decided he wanted to raise £250 by walking a marathon to mark the tenth anniversary of his father’s death.
However, after a flurry of donations, he decided he would hike it to £1,000 but also smashed this target – going on to raise more than £107,000.
After winning Young Fundraiser of the Year at last night’s Pride of Britain Awards, Jack said of his accomplishment: ‘It feels unbelievable. It does feel like I’m dreaming.’
This marks the tenth year since the death of Fusilier Rigby, who was a drummer and machine-gunner in the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
Jack was handed his award by Good Morning Britain presenters Susanna Reid and Ben Shephard
As celebrities cheered for Jack at the awards ceremony, a guard of honour of Royal Fusiliers, his father’s regiment, stood behind him.
Jack was handed his award by Good Morning Britain presenters Susanna Reid and Ben Shephard.
Alongside was athlete Katrina Johnson Thompson and rapper Aitch, who high-fived Jack.
The schoolboy told the Mirror: ‘It feels unbelievable. It does feel like I’m dreaming.
‘I thought my dad joining the military was an act of courage and he was very strong to do it.
‘We walked miles and talked about my dad. It was a way for me to remember him in a positive way at a difficult time.
‘Ten years without having him here has not been easy, but he will never be forgotten and will always be a part of my life.’
His mother, Rebecca, added: ‘Obviously I’m immensely proud of him. Of everything he has done.’
Jack Rigby has won the Pride of Britain award for his fundraising efforts in tribute to his father
Jack raised £55,000 through his marathon’s fundraising page, and donations at the Pride of Britain event pushed this amount over the line of his target
Jack’s mother, Rebecca, told Good Morning Britain: ‘I have always said I didn’t want what happened to define Jack’s life and I wanted him to live the childhood he deserved to live.
What happened to Lee Rigby: Inside the brutal murder of British Fusilier by terrorists Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale
Fusilier Rigby holding Jack as a baby
Fusilier Rigby was run over and stabbed to death in broad daylight while walking towards his barracks in Woolwich, south-east London in 2013.
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The attack was carried out by Isis extremists Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale, who reportedly picked the solider out at random. He was off-duty and wearing civilian clothes at the time.
The father-of-one died as a result of multiple cut and stab wounds in the attack fuelled by Adebowale and Adebolajo’s extremist beliefs – described as a ‘betrayal of Islam’ at their murder trial in 2014.
It is understood they expected to be ‘martyrs’ and to be killed by police at the scene. Instead, they were given life sentences for Fusilier Rigby’s killing.
‘I wanted him to go on and do something good. I never dreamed that he would raise this amount of money for charity.’
Last night, the youngster was won Young Fundraiser of the Year at the Pride of Britain Awards.
By the time of the ceremony, Jack had raised £55,000 – but after hearing his touching story, Jack managed to nearly double the amount, with a whole host of celebrities including Dragons Den star Duncan Bannantyne donating.
The money was raised for the charity Scotty’s Little Soldiers, which supports bereaved military children.
His mother Rebecca said the pair originally set out to raise £250, but soon went on to raise it to £1,000 which they also ‘smashed’.
Jack’s mother added: ‘We were absolutely astonished at the amount he was raising.’
It was then they decided to try raise £10,000. This would be £1,000 for every year Jack had been without his father.
But they never thought they would meet this amount.
Jack wrote on his fundraising page: ‘My dad Fusilier Lee Rigby was murdered on May 22nd 2013 when I was only two and a half years old.
‘This year marked the ten year anniversary, it’s never easy but this year felt even harder for some reason.
‘This really helped me to concentrate on something positive at a very difficult time while helping this amazing charity.
‘In May I took part in the May marathon, taking on 26.2 miles during the month of May.
‘More recently I have taken part in Scotty’s March with my mom, Rebecca. We walked 10K to raise funds for Scotty’s.
‘My mom registered me with Scotty’s in 2013 and I have been a proud member ever since. I have met other children that understand what it’s like to be in this position.’
Jack was so shocked by his father’s sickening death when he was younger that he lost the ability to speak for months.
But now he says exercise helps him to cope with the grief.
His page read: ‘I’ve had fun at the Scotty’s Christmas parties over the years and marched with Scotty’s through London on Remembrance Day which filled me with pride.
‘I even named my dog Scotty after the charity. I now want to be able to give something back to Scotty’s, and with your help donating we can help Scotty’s to continue supporting hundreds of bereaved military children just like me.’
