THE mother and best friend of a serviceman killed in Afghanistan in 2007 have set off on a 150-mile walk in his memory. Christine Bonner from Gedney and Thetford solider Cpl Carl Turner are taking part in All the 4s — a 10-day walk across five counties –

THE mother and best friend of a serviceman killed in Afghanistan in 2007 have set off on a 150-mile walk in his memory.

Christine Bonner from Gedney and Thetford solider Cpl Carl Turner are taking part in All the 4s - a 10-day walk across five counties - which was organised to raise money for troops and their families.

Darren Bonner, of the Royal Anglian Regiment, was one of nine members of his regiment to die in brutal tour of Afghanistan in 2007.

Cpl Turner, who is in the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Anglian Regiment, and Mrs Bonner set off from North Lincolnshire on Friday with a core of 13 walkers to complete the trek for the Royal Anglian Regiment Benevolent Charity.

The group are going through Lincolnshire, Leicester, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire.

On Wednesday they finished the Northampton part of the walk and are walking in Bedfordshire Thursday.

The group finishes in Hertford on Sunday.

Cpl Turner said: "Darren was my best friend for 13 years. We first met in Bosnia in 1994. We just struck it off really. We had the same mentality. People have been coming over and giving use lots of money."

It is the second charity walk organised by Mrs Bonner and other family members of serving Anglian soldiers.

Mrs Bonner said the blisters were starting to show, but the response and generosity of people along the route have been incredible. On the first day of the walk they had around 50 people who joined them.

She said: "Everybody is doing a really, really good job. For a lot of them this is their holiday and they've decided to do the walk with me.

"People along the route have been fantastic. They are stopping us in the road as we are going down quite a lot of country lanes.

"We walked into the hotel today and people were clapping as we walked past. People are really responding.

"We got �1,200 when we went through Lincoln. People are giving us what they can."

"The soldiers need to know that when they are out there, we are here doing this for them. They need to know people are supporting them.

"They are ordinary people and that they go out there and risk their lives. It's an extraordinary job. They are there 24-7. You cannot take the day off when you like. People really respect what they are doing out there."

"It is about making sure that people are aware of it and what it is like out there for them."

"I think Darren would be very proud."

To follow the progress of the group, join them or donate to the Royal Anglian Benevolent Charity go to www.allthe4s.co.uk.