Mother who walked 157 miles with a horse statue in memory of equestrian daughter, 16, who took her own life, completes challenge to raise incredible £50,000 after Prince William surprise meeting
- For help, call Samaritans for free on 116 123 or visit samaritans.org
A mother has today completed her 157 walk with a life-sized horse statue in memory of her equestrian teenage daughter who took her own life having raised nearly £50,000.
Emma Webb crossed the finish line at the International Horse Show at the ExCel London this afternoon on the eighteenth day of her colossal trek from Chepstow in Monmouthshire, Wales.
Ms Webb, who lost her daughter Brodie – a promising equestrian – at age 16 to suicide in March 2020, wants to raise awareness around mental health in young people. Her JustGiving campaign has already received £48,000 in donations for suicide prevention charities.
This comes after the heart-warming moment she was surprised by Prince William on day 13 of her fundraising walk.
Pictures show the triumphant mother crossing the red tape at the exhibition centre in east London as she is cheered by followers including members of the armed forces in uniform.
Emma Webb arrives at the London International Horse Show at ExCel London at the end of her 157 mile walk in memory of her late daughter
Ms Webb crossed the finish line at the International Horse Show at the ExCel London this afternoon on the eighteenth day of her colossal trek from Chepstow in Monmouthshire, Wales
Brodie Webb (pictured) took her own life at age 16 following a riding session in March 2020
Speaking to BBC Breakfast this morning as she set off to complete the final leg of her journey Ms Webb said: ‘I cannot believe it’s the last day, it’s gone so quickly.’
Ms Webb said she wanted to ‘raise awareness for mental health and suicide prevention’.
She was accompanied at the front of the convoy by her mother, Brodie’s grandmother, Pam, whose voice trembled with emotion when she said she was ‘very proud’ of her daughter.
Ms Webb’s JustGiving page for Riders Minds and PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide has already raised more than £48,000, an extra 60 per cent on top of the original £30,000 target.
While the challenge is now over, donations are still coming in, with more than 2,200 people having sent something as of around 5pm this evening.
Emma was oblivious when the Prince of Wales greeted her last week as she pulled the resin horse through the streets of Slough. A video showed the moment he casually strolls towards her and shouts ‘boo’ before embracing her in a warm hug.
Ms Webb’s JustGiving page for Riders Minds and PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide has already raised more than £47,000, nearly an extra 60 per cent on top of the original £30,000 target
Brodie, 16, was a promising equestrian with all A-star predictions for her GCSEs
Ms Webb smiled happily as she arrived in London today as more than 2,200 people have donated to her fundraising campaign for suicide prevention charities
She told MailOnline: ‘He put his arms out and I thought “right, I’m going to have a nice hug” so he gave me a nice hug, or a Welsh cwtch!’
The campaigner, who was walking with two other mothers bereaved by suicide, said at the time that it meant ‘everything’ that Prince William, a well-known champion of mental health, had come to support her – and he even leant a hand pushing Miles along for the 20 minutes he was there.
Emma said: ‘I was aware that he’d seen what I was doing on the news, but I wasn’t aware that he was going to turn up on the streets of Slough and walk with me, so it was amazing! He appeared from behind the horse and shouted “Boo” at me!
‘I turned around and I was just gobsmacked that he was stood there. Me, a little old Welsh lady from Newport with a plastic horse and the Prince of Wales is just stood in front of me!
‘I didn’t really know what to do when I saw him. He put his arms out and I thought “right, I’m going to have a nice hug” so he gave me a nice hug, or a Welsh cwtch!’
This is the heartwarming moment Prince William surprised a woman near Slough during a charity walk. Emma set out on the trek to raise awareness of suicide (Pictured: Emma Webb in shock, a few of her pals and Prince William)
After surprising a stunned Emma, the prince reached out for a hug
‘To have a hug from the future King, it’s just unthinkable, it was like an out of body experience.’
Emma said she and the other mother chatted to the prince for around 20 minutes about mental health, suicide prevention and their loved ones.
She also told the prince about the ‘mishaps’ she has had on her trek, including walking through mud, ice and along narrow towpaths – resulting in bits of Miles breaking – but how kind strangers have always been ready to help her.
Emma added of the prince’s visit: ‘For Prince William to come out and recognise what we’re trying to do…it’s just amazing.
‘You can’t get a more supportive backer than the Prince of Wales, so it really means everything to me that he came out.’
- To donate to Ms Webb’s ‘Leg on to London’ fundraiser, click here.
Source: Read Full Article