Meet the Military Children Marching in Memory of Their Mum
In October of 2020, Tori and Bradley’s mum, PTE Sarah Blakemore, died by suicide. Tori was only nine years old at the time, while Bradley was just seven. A few months later, they joined Scotty’s Little Soldiers, the charity for bereaved military children.
Sarah was a veteran who served with the Adjutant General’s Corps for four years, during which time she was based in Germany and completed a tour of Bosnia. Sarah’s death had an indescribable impact on Tori and Bradley, but despite their grief, both children are living each day to the full, spurred on by their dad, who is with them every step of the way. Tori loves being on-stage and last year became a majorette, while Bradley is a skilled young footballer playing for the Colchester and Ipswich Football Clubs.
Now, inspired by the memory of their mum, Tori, Bradley and their dad have teamed up to take on Scotty’s March, where they can choose to walk 10, 25 or 50km across the Chiltern countryside to raise money for bereaved military children just like them.
Tori and Bradley with their mum, PTE Sarah Blakemore
Honouring their mum’s memory
“Tori and Bradley are both such loving kids and always put in 100% into everything they do,” says their dad, Anthony “Blakey” Blakemore, who also is serving in the Armed Forces. “The year after their mum died, they helped grow something like 80 pumpkins at my work just to give out to other bereaved military children. They’re always just doing little things to give something back.”
Sarah may no longer be with them, but she remains a constant source of inspiration to Tori and Bradley, who see helping others as one way they can honour their mum’s memory.
“Sarah used to do loads of charity work and take part in all kinds of challenges – runs, parachute jumps, the whole lot – so we also feel inspired to do these things because of her,” Blakey continues. “We try to do the kind of things she would have liked to do.”
Tori being kissed by her mum
Meeting people who understand
Tori and Bradley joined Scotty’s in 2021, and have been supported by the charity ever since, benefitting from Scotty Breaks, grants, Christmas parties and the option to access to one-to-one bereavement support, should they ever want it. Through these events, they have been able to meet lots of bereaved military children who can understand and relate to what they’ve been through.
Tori and Bradley enjoying a Scotty Break
“Scotty’s is the club everyone loves, but no one wants to be a part of,” says Blakey. “You’re a part of this amazing family, but it's for a very unfortunate reason. We’ve done two Christmas parties now and I barely saw either of the kids as they spent the whole time off mixing and having fun with the other children. We also went on a Scotty’s Break to Blackpool in our first year with the charity. The kids love it. They’ve both made friends from Scotty’s who they play games with and speak to regularly.”
He continues: “Tori and Bradley are very, very proud to be members of Scotty’s. Bradley wears his Scotty’s badge on his school bag and he’s not shy about explaining what it means when someone asks. Tori is currently away camping with her school, and she’s brought her Scotty’s t-shirt to wear. My football team is also going to wear the Scotty’s logo on our arm for next year's kit. It’s a great cause and we’re all proud to be part of it.”
Tori and Bradley meeting Santa at Scotty's Christmas Party
Giving back to the charity that supports them
“Scotty’s March feels like a chance to give something back. We want to do it because of everything it stands for, for all the support Scotty’s have given us over the past few years, and because it’s something Sarah would have enjoyed. Plus, it just sounds like a laugh, doesn’t it? We’re doing 12 miles, and I don’t think the kids have ever walked that far before. It’ll be a good little test for them, and hopefully they’ll get to meet some new people along the way.”
“I’m looking forward to it because it’s going to be a challenge,” says ten-year-old Bradley, who will be thinking of his mum every step of the way.
Blakey adds: “We're a very busy family and don’t often get the time to something big like this altogether, so it’s going to be a nice experience.”
Bradley stood in a football stadium
Uniting for a cause
Tori and Bradley’s mum and dad both served in the Army, and the family live near Colchester Garrison. As a result, they feel an extremely strong connection to the Forces and are well known within the local military community.
“We’re not the only family from Colchester supported by Scotty’s, so we’re going to try to get everyone together and spread the word,” says Blakey. “There’s quite a large military presence around this area, so hopefully people will donate generously and we can make a real difference.”
Tori and Bradley’s goal is to raise £2,500 for bereaved military children just like them. Donations can be made here.
Tori and Bradley
Marching in solidarity with bereaved military families
Blakey served in the 1st Battalion the Light Infantry (1LI) and 5 Rifles for 16 years before transferring to a Military Provost staff Regiment (MPS) based at Military Corrective Training centre (MCTC) in Colchester. His colleagues are aware of the support Scotty’s offers Tori and Bradley and are collectively showing their support by joining them on the march.
He says: “All my work colleges I work with know our story and want to help us raise as much as possible. Every lunchtime at twelve o’clock they’re out training in the woods, counting their steps and breaking their boots in. They’re really looking forward to it. They wanted to take on the 50k, so I had to have a little reality check with them, as I don’t think they all realised how far that actually is! We also managed to get the commandant of MCTC involved as he was actually in the same regiment as Lee Scott, who Scotty’s was obviously named after.”
Tori and Bradley at Scotty's Christmas Party
Supporting bereaved military children
Scotty’s Little Soldiers is a tri-service charity dedicated to supporting children and young people (0 to 25 years) who have experienced the death of a parent who served in the British Armed Forces.
Inspired by the experience of Army widow Nikki Scott, following the death of her husband Corporal Lee Scott in Afghanistan in 2009, the charity, which was set up in 2010, provides support and guidance to hundreds of bereaved military children and young people throughout their childhood.
Services offered to Scotty’s members include access to child bereavement support, guidance to parents and carers, 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.
Tori marching with her majorette group
What is Scotty’s March?
Scotty’s March is our biggest fundraising event of 2023 and a brand-new challenge for our supporters to take on in aid of bereaved military children. With three distance options available and your choice of how to cover them, this challenge is great for all ages and abilities. Everyone can get involved!
- Date: Saturday 23rd September 2023
- Location: Henley-on-Thames
- Distance: 10km/25km/50km
- Apply by: 19th August 2023
- Registration Fee: FREE
- Minimum Fundraising: £200 - £400
