Over 200 runners join 5k in memory of Henry Nowak

About 200 people wore red while taking part in a 5,000m run held in remembrance of murder victim and Arsenal fan Henry Nowak.

The 18-year-old, from Chafford Hundred, Essex, was stabbed to death as he walked home after a night out in Southampton on 3 December.

His killer, Vickrum Digwa, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years in June.

The run took place on Saturday in Chafford and was organised by Mary McLoughlin, 65, from Chafford Hundred Running Club, who said: "We were really impacted by what happened to Henry. He was a lovable boy."

McLoughlin said Sylvia Merrigan helped her organise the event, which started at All Saints Church, and it brought communities and people from different faiths and backgrounds together.

McLoughlin added: "I thought it would be a nice thing to support the family to show them that they are in our thoughts and prayers.

"We had a lot of help organising this."

She said the supermarket Morrisons, where Nowak used to work, had provided water and snacks.

"The local Sikh community came out with water, naans and onion bhajis," she added.

"The church opened their doors for us to use their toilets and provided toast, tea, coffee and hot chocolate."

She said the event was fantastic, but also very emotional.

"People were pleased to be there to show their support to the family and I think the family were grateful that we were there to show support to them," she said.

The event had raised over £600 for 2wish, a charity that supports families affected by sudden death in young people.

Jen Craft, the MP for Thurrock, attended the run and said: "It was really lovely, it showed Thurrock at its best."

In a short speech at the start of the event, Lucy Ross, Nowak's mum, said: "It's days like this that help the family keep going."

Craft said: "It was a really warm event — you saw the best of what our community looked like."

Craft said a lot of Nowak's school friends shared stories of the 18-year-old at the event.

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