Son, 13, of murdered soldier Lee Rigby stuns Pride of Britain crowd by response
It began small, as a young lad’s brave but simple quest to do something to make the dad he misses every single day proud. To numb his own grief, while supporting others also facing loss and pain.
But tonight it got big. So big, so far beyond his wildest dreams, Jack Rigby could only laugh and gape, open-mouthed, in complete awe. Although it was the audience who were the truly awestruck ones.
Jack, the 13-year-son of Fusilier Lee Rigby, could never have imagined standing under the searing lights of the stage at the Daily Mirror’s Pride of Britain Awards, with TSB, crowned GMB Young Fundraiser, when he originally came up with a simple challenge undertaken to mark the 10th anniversary of Lee’s murder on May 22 - to raise £250 by walking a marathon across the month.
Lee Rigby with his little son Jack in April 2011 (PA)He certainly couldn’t have dreamt how the nation would one day show their pride in him - by taking his challenge and running with it themselves, boosting that total beyond all expectations. Tonight, as celebrities cheered for him, and a guard of honour of Royal Fusiliers, his father’s regiment, stood behind him, he must have thought of his father, whose medals he wore. Thought, and just hoped he could see it all.
The teenager, from Halifax, West Yorks, had been amazed enough when, early this year, his original fundraising total escalated to £55,000 as the Mirror publicised his cause and the nation, including the Prime Minister and countless celebrities, got behind him. But tonight, in a joyful surprise, hosts Carol Vorderman - with her felt tip pen and flipchart for scribbled maths - and Ashley Banjo, revealed donations from TSB, Pride of Britain, Go Fund Me, plus £12,000 from generous Daily Mirror readers.
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Jack Rigby wins the GMB Young Fundraiser of the Year Award (Phil Harris / Daily Mirror)Ashley then finally ran into the crowd, approached a dragon, and unveiled a stunning gift of £20,000 from Dragons Den’s Duncan Bannatyne, boosting Jack’s total to an astonishing £107,124. More than £10,000 for each year he has been without his dad.
“Thank you so much,” is all the astonished schoolboy could utter open-mouthed, later admitting he was blown away by the ”insane amount of money”. “I remember when Lee Rigby was killed 10 years ago,” said Duncan, as the room stood for Jack. “It’s great to see Jack here today representing him.”
It was one of those moments only Pride of Britain can produce. Jack, handed his award by Good Morning Britain presenters Susanna Reid and Ben Shephard, alongside rapper Aitch, who high-fived the youngster, and athlete Katrina Johnson Thompson, looked beside himself.
Jack has won an award tonight (David Dyson/Daily Mirror)“It feels unbelievable,” he said. “It does feel like I’m dreaming.” Explaining the motivation Lee gave him for the challenge, he added: “I thought my dad joining the military was an act of courage and he was very strong to do it.”
His mother Rebecca could barely get her words of pride out for sobs. “Obviously I’m immensely proud of him,” she said. “Of everything he has done, of the person he is now and growing into. I couldn’t be prouder.”
All the money Jack has raised will go to Scotty’s Little Soldiers, a brilliant charity that supports children bereaved of a parent who served in the British Armed Forces which has been by Jack’s side for a decade. Recalling his challenge, Jack explained modestly: “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.
Jack pictured with Ant and Dec as he receives a surprise (Tim Merry/Daily Mirror)“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.” He added: “I chose to raise funds for Scotty’s because they have always been there for me, they get it. They understand what it’s like to lose a parent and through the charity I’ve met people who are the same as me.”
If Pride of Britain is about the great in humanity outshining the rotten; illuminating the darkest corners and reminding us all of what good there remains in the world - and what resilience we are capable of - Jack Rigby, for all his youth, embodies that message perfectly. The schoolboy was robbed of his father on May 22, 2013. He was just a two-year-old pale–faced toddler then, a lost figure at the funeral clutching a military teddy bear his dad had given him, and regressed to babyhood with the trauma.
Jack was grateful for the prize (Tim Merry/Daily Mirror)As he has grown, his devastated mother, a teacher, has been unable to protect him from the truth: that Lee, 25, was murdered in the most heinous circumstances, killed outside Woolwich Barracks in southeast London by Islamic terrorists. The soldier had joined the Army in 2006, and deployed to Afghanistan three years later, but at the time was working in a recruitment post for the 2nd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.
Off-duty, he was entering the barracks in civilian clothes when his killers, Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale, mowed him down in a speeding car. They then attacked him with knives and meat cleavers before shouting “Allahu Akhbar” - God is great - and waiting for police. There is little doubt, of course, that Lee would consider his son a hero.
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Jack pictured with his mum (Daily Mirror)His pride would match Rebecca’s. Rebecca explains she sought Scotty’s help months after Lee’s death when things were still “incredibly raw”. She said: “Jack is a quiet lad but he’s also very determined.
“Scotty’s Little Soldiers has played a significant part in his life and he’s got his heart set on doing what he can to say thank you to them, and to help other children facing the challenges he’s lived with for most of his life.” She added: “Fundraising for Scotty’s at the time of Lee’s 10th anniversary was a way for Jack to honour his dad and do something positive in his name.”
Jack was given the surprise he had won a Pride of Britain award by his favourite television presenters, Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, ahead of the ceremony. As they handed the gobsmacked schoolboy the envelope that revealed his prize it was the disbelieving look of gradually dawning comprehension he shared with mum, Rebecca, which said everything about the last ten years they have weathered together.
“Oooh”, was all the schoolboy could utter. “How do you feel?” asked Ant. “Shocked,” he said. Ant and Dec appeared visibly moved. “He is the embodiment of the Pride of Britain Awards,” said Dec. “I’m sure his father would be proud of the young man that Jack has become.”
Turning to Jack for a hug, Ant added: “We are inspired by you, we are in awe of you.” Tonight, everyone gathered was in awe of the 13-year-old lad who had stood up against evil and pain, and made endless, indomitable good.
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