Family fundraises for others affected by murder

1 hour ago

Lucinda AdamSussex political reporter

News image — Josh Bashford's father, two brothers, his sister and her partner walked 66 miles non-stop to raise money for Victim Support's homicide service to help others

Lucinda Adam/BBC Josh Bashford's father, two brothers, his sister and her partner stand together in front of the Vanguard Way finish sign. They wear while t-shirts with a black and white photo of Josh and Chloe. — Josh Bashford's father, two brothers, his sister and her partner walked 66 miles non-stop to raise money for Victim Support's homicide service to help others

The family of a man who was murdered alongside his wife at their home in Newhaven in East Sussex has walked 66 miles non-stop to raise money for Victim Support's homicide service in their memory.

This week marks three years since Josh Bashford and his wife Chloe were brutally attacked, leaving their four children orphaned.

Josh's father, his two brothers, his sister and her partner have so far raised more than £4,000 taking on the Vanguard Way for charity Victim Support.

At the finish line in Newhaven, Josh's sister Natasha said her family wanted to support other families bereaved by murder as "it's sadly it's going to happen so and they're going to need support as well".

She said "I'm not sure that I would be where I am today without the support of victim support.

"When everyone in your family is going through the same trauma and everybody grieves differently, it's so nice to have somebody outside of that bubble who you can unload on without feeling like you're burdening your own family.

"Other families are going to go through it as well."

She says after three years without Josh and Chloe "it doesn't get any easier", but it was "nice to be able to do something positive throughout everything".

Bashford family Josh Bashford wears a black and white t-shirt. He has short brown hair and a cropped beard. He hugs his wife Chloe who has long dark hair and wears a bright blue blouse. Both of them are smiling. — Chloe and Josh Bashford were murdered leaving their four children orphaned

At the end of the 66-mile walk, Josh's father Andrew said he was "exhausted and everything hurts", but the challenge was worth it because he said he "couldn't praise Victim Support enough" for the help they had given his family in a "very, very, very difficult time".

He said he had pictured Josh and Chloe "laughing their heads off" seeing him "soaking wet, tired and in pain" as he walked through the night between East Croydon and Newhaven Town railway stations.

Josh's brother Billy said the walk was "physically, emotionally and mentally the hardest thing I've ever done".

Sharon, Josh's mother, who supported the rest of her family overnight said she was "immensely proud" of them.

Katie Kempen, CEO of Victim Support, said it was a "real honour" that the Bashford family had chosen to raise funds for them.

She said: "It's just incredible that the family are using this opportunity to raise that money, to help provide that comfort, that inspiration, and to help provide those additional extras for people who will sadly come after them."

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