Remembrance Day Vow: Lee Rigby's Mother To Visit Schools To Stop Children Becoming Extremists

Lee Rigby's Mother To Visit Schools To Fight Extremism

The mother of murdered soldier Lee Rigby wants to visit schools to combat radicalisation in the hope she can stop children from following in the footsteps of the extremists who killed her son.

Lyn Rigby said the initiative was one of the aims of the family's charity, the Lee Rigby Foundation, which she hopes will become an "astounding legacy" to her son who was murdered as he returned to Woolwich barracks in May 2013.

Michael Adebolajo was given a whole-life term and Michael Adebowale was jailed for a minimum of 45 years for his murder.

Lee Rigby's mother Lyn Rigby and his stepfather Ian

The foundation was set up to help grieving military families, injured veterans and their loved ones, and Rigby is determined it will "make a difference".

Speaking in a Remembrance Sunday interview with the Daily Mirror, Rigby said she wanted to have a positive influence on "young and impressionable kids".

She said: "If I can go into schools with the foundation and teach them the right message it would be an astounding legacy for Lee and one he'd have supported.

"Also I want my son's foundation to offer real support to those like me in their darkest hour. When we lost him, I didn't have anyone to turn to.

"And it's important to me to support the injured men and women who fought for our country, including those with post-traumatic stress disorder."

Lee Rigby was murdered as he returned to Woolwich barracks in May 2013

The soldier's stepfather, Ian, told the Mirror that starting the foundation was the fulfilment of a "promise to our family and Lee that we would do everything to make a difference and make sure his name was used for good”.

He said: “If more people were like him, the world would be a far better place. The key part of the trust is to look after bereaved military families and injured veterans and then later to look at education to try and stop this ever happening again."

Ian said the foundation aimed to show people that "violence is not the way forward" and said Rigby's mother was the "living proof that violence and hatred brings nothing but misery".

He said: “Our family has been destroyed by Lee’s murder – and if we can get that message across it might prevent another family going through the hell we have.”

Ian added that Remembrance Sunday was "very emotional time" for the family, who had laid a wreath at the father of one's grave.

In a post on the foundation's Facebook page on Sunday, Rigby wrote: "As Lee Rigby's mum, I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has shown their love and and support to my family On this special day, I remember my beautiful son and all the brave men and women who were lost to so many families who suffer their grief as I do.

"I am proud to say that I am Lee Rigby's mum and I pay my respects to every serviceman or woman who fought for their country and lost their life. I also pay tribute to the surviving veterans and those injured in body or mind. They are forever in my mind, heart and soul."

According to the Mirror, George Cross holder and former Royal Marine Matt Croucher and ex-special forces soldier Colin Maclachan, a star of Channel 4 series SAS: Who Dares Wins, are among the charity's patrons.

Lee Rigby memorial unveiled

Lee Rigby Memorial

Close

What's Hot