Mums' sad walk
By Jo Deeks on Thursday, 20th July 2000.
Two mothers whose sons died together in a car crash are to retrace their last journey on a sponsored walk on Saturday.
Marilyn Bowers, of Burton End, Haverhill, and Penny Rowlands, of Westward Deals, Kedington, will mark the third aniversary of their sons' deaths with the walk in aid of the Best Mates Trust set up in their memory.
Steven Bowers, 21, and Ben Rowlands, 19, died when their car was involved in an accident at Sturmer on July 27, 1997.
The two women will leave the Rowlands home at 8am and walk the route travelled by their sons into Haverhill, via Sainsbury's and the bypass to the Bowers house at Hazel Stub Cottages, stopping at Murco's garage and on to the accident site at Sturmer.
United by their grief and overwhelmed by the support from young friends of their sons, the two families set up the trust.
Its aim is to raise money to help young people in the Haverhill area who have suffered through bereavement, illness, disability or poverty.
It has taken two and a half years to set up the charity and it has just been registered - so that it can allocate funds. A total of £5,000 has been raised so far and it is hoped the sponsered walk will raise between £500 and £600.
Mrs Bowers said: "It seems like only yesterday, but then on the other hand you wonder where the time has gone.
"We just fill up our days so that you don't just sit around and think of it. I have got two more sons and a grand-daughter so you have got to carry on for them.
"We do two or three things a year. We cannot do as much as we would like because you cannot keep asking people for money. It will bring back a lot of memories, but we thought it would be a good way to mark the anniversary."
Leaflets about the charity are being distributed to doctor's surgeries and places like the Citizens' Advice Bureau. The families will also be having a display at the centenary celebrations on Recreation Ground on Sunday, July 30.
Anyone who wants to sponsor the walk, can help with fund raising or wants to apply to the Trust should contact Mrs Bowers on (01440) 705510.
Marilyn Bowers, of Burton End, Haverhill, and Penny Rowlands, of Westward Deals, Kedington, will mark the third aniversary of their sons' deaths with the walk in aid of the Best Mates Trust set up in their memory.
Steven Bowers, 21, and Ben Rowlands, 19, died when their car was involved in an accident at Sturmer on July 27, 1997.
The two women will leave the Rowlands home at 8am and walk the route travelled by their sons into Haverhill, via Sainsbury's and the bypass to the Bowers house at Hazel Stub Cottages, stopping at Murco's garage and on to the accident site at Sturmer.
United by their grief and overwhelmed by the support from young friends of their sons, the two families set up the trust.
Its aim is to raise money to help young people in the Haverhill area who have suffered through bereavement, illness, disability or poverty.
It has taken two and a half years to set up the charity and it has just been registered - so that it can allocate funds. A total of £5,000 has been raised so far and it is hoped the sponsered walk will raise between £500 and £600.
Mrs Bowers said: "It seems like only yesterday, but then on the other hand you wonder where the time has gone.
"We just fill up our days so that you don't just sit around and think of it. I have got two more sons and a grand-daughter so you have got to carry on for them.
"We do two or three things a year. We cannot do as much as we would like because you cannot keep asking people for money. It will bring back a lot of memories, but we thought it would be a good way to mark the anniversary."
Leaflets about the charity are being distributed to doctor's surgeries and places like the Citizens' Advice Bureau. The families will also be having a display at the centenary celebrations on Recreation Ground on Sunday, July 30.
Anyone who wants to sponsor the walk, can help with fund raising or wants to apply to the Trust should contact Mrs Bowers on (01440) 705510.
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