Bereaved Armed Forces teenager completes 5km challenge alongside her mum to raise money to help support other children and young people in a similar situation
“Fundraising for Scotty’s is incredibly important to our family, they’ve supported Zoe consistently over the last decade. As Zoe was so young when her father died, she has coped relatively well, but having Scotty’s there in case anything changes is a big reassurance.”
Despite Covid altering their plans, Somerset-based Zoe Templer (13) and her mum, Laura Knight (37) completed a 5km run at home on 16th October to help raise vital funds for a charity that has been a constant pillar of support following the tragic death of Zoe’s father and soldier, Sergeant Adrian Templer in 2010.
Zoe and mum, Laura
Zoe was just two years old when her dad was killed in a biking accident on the way to work. At the time, Adrian, a vehicle Artificer, was serving with 3 Yorks Warminster and was engaged to be married to Zoe’s mum Laura.
Since his death, Zoe has been supported by Scotty’s Little Soldiers, a national charity which supports children and young people who have experienced the death of a parent who served in the Armed Forces. Thanks to the amazing fundraising support from her mum Laura, and stepdad, Barry, Zoe has raised over £400 for the charity as a way of giving back for everything they have done over the years.
To raise money, Zoe’s original plan was to take part in Exeter’s Inflatable 5km, but after testing positive for Covid-19 her plans changed. Instead, Zoe and her mum brought the event to them and ran the distance around their home and garden.
Commenting on their fundraising, Laura said: “Zoe was gutted that Covid prevented her from attending the inflatable 5km, but she knew she wanted to do something to continue raising money for Scotty’s. When we realised her symptoms were very mild, we decided that Zoe and I could complete the 5km at home.
“Zoe and I completed the whole 5km at home, sporting our Scotty’s t-shirts proudly. To complete the full distance, we ran throughout the house and around the garden, bumping into the sofa a few times along the way!
“I feel incredibly proud of Zoe, she was determined to complete her 5km and was adamant that she wouldn’t let anyone down that had donated to her fundraising. She did absolutely brilliantly and completed it with a big smile across her face.”
Zoe joined Scotty’s in June 2011 and since then has benefited from the support provided by the charity, including a grant to help pay for ballet lessons and to put towards a school residential. Zoa has also enjoyed family respite breaks away, Christmas parties and gifts and vouchers at particularly difficult times of the year.
Laura said: “Fundraising for Scotty’s is incredibly important to our family; they’ve supported Zoe consistently over the last decade. Thankfully, as Zoe was so young when her father died, she has coped relatively well, but having Scotty’s there in case anything changes is a constant reassurance.”
Scotty’s Little Soldiers, which was set up in 2010 by war widow Nikki Scott, offers integral support to children and young people who have experienced the death of a parent who served in the Armed Forces.
Nikki saw the devastating impact the death of her husband, Corporal Lee Scott, in 2009, had on their two young children and wanted to help others in the same situation.
The charity is currently providing assistance to hundreds of bereaved Forces children and young people around the UK and services offered include guidance to parents and carers, access to professional child bereavement support, personal education and learning assistance (including grants) and fun activities such as holiday respite breaks and group events. These are all designed to remind the children and young people supported by Scotty’s that they are not alone.
Nikki said: “We cannot thank Scotty’s families enough for their continued support. Zoe and Laura have fundraised for Scotty’s a lot over the years and we’re so incredibly appreciative of it. We’re so pleased to hear that Zoe is feeling well, we can’t believe she managed to do a full 5km! Without the continued support we receive we wouldn’t be able to deliver our vital work for bereaved Armed Forces children and young people like Zoe.”
