Essex Police officers raise more than £9,000 in memory of colleague
They have completed a 71.449 kilometre walking challenge
A group of Essex Police officers have raised more than £9,000 in memory of their colleague.
Six serving officers have completed a 71.449 kilometre walking challenge, in tribute of PC Ewan Smith's police collar number, 71449.
PC Ewan Smith died last year at the age of 36.
In March 2020 he had been unable to go to work because of a headache.
Later that day he suffered a sudden seizure and was rushed to hospital.
Ewan was found to have a brain tumour.
He never recovered consciousness following the seizure and died three days later.
Ewan left behind wife, Natalie, their sons, Austin, and twins Fletcher and Franklin who were aged five and one at the time.
His parents and three sisters were also left "heartbroken" by his death.
Ewan's police colleagues and friends; Detective Sergeant Charlie Cronin, PC Andy Gore, PC Dave Roberts, DC Karen Bryant, PC Charlotte Vale and PC Wendy Wray, set off from Southend Police Station at 7pm on Saturday (1 May) and began their walk.
They made their way to Grays Police Station, where they had worked together with Ewan, passing through Hadleigh, Benfleet, Pitsea and Stanford-le-hope.
The team arrived at their halfway point during the early hours of Sunday (2 May).
The walkers hit Orsett as the sun was rising over the county that Ewan served for more than 14 years.
The team continued onto Billericay, before heading to Essex Police Headquarters.
A mile before the finish line the officers were joined by Ewan's wife and sons, who walked the final part of the team's journey with them.
19 hours after they had started their challenge in Ewan's hometown of Southend, the police officers crossed the finish line in Chelmsford alongside Ewan's family.
PC Andy Gore, who planned the route for the team, said it was hard work:
"We wanted to do something that would be a challenge and we have the muscle aches and feet blisters to prove just how tough it was.
"But we were all determined to get to the end because we were doing it in Ewan's memory and for his family.
"We had some great support along the way from family and friends, who kept us going by turning up along the route, shouting encouraging words from afar and waving us on."
The team have smashed their original target of £2,500, having now raised more than £9,000 for Ewan's family.
Detective Sergeant Charlie Cronin added they have been "completely overcome" by people's donations:
"We never envisaged we'd raise this much money and we would like to thank every single person who has donated to our cause.
"We can't begin to express just how overwhelmed we were by everyone's kindness and couldn't believe that we even had donations from people who didn't know us or Ewan.
"We know nothing we do can ever make up for loosing Ewan, but we hope that we can make Natalie, the boys and Ewan's parents and three sisters, feel a little better on Ewan's behalf."
On hearing about what Ewan's colleagues were planning in memory of her late husband, Ewan's wife, Natalie, said:
"I am so touched by the thought Charlie and the team have put in to this and I know that Ewan would have loved the idea.
"Incorporating Ewan's police collar number and the areas where he lived and worked in the walk makes it very personal and special.
"It wasn't until Charlie sent me the Just Giving link, that I realised the team were raising money for us.
"I was completely shocked and overwhelmed.
"I can never begin to thank everyone for their thoughtfulness, kindness and generosity.
"We have been left devastated by Ewan's death and miss him every day.
"It's nice to know that we're not alone in remembering him and have the continued support of his friends and colleagues from Essex Police."
Donations can be made via the team's Just Giving page.