by Katie Alston
kalston@thekmgroup.co.uk

A mum has paid tribute to her son and his colleagues who are currently serving on the frontline in Afghanistan.

Annette Gillard organised a charity football match on Saturday to raise money for soldiers injured in the line of duty and as a way of letting her son private Lewis Avery know she was thinking of him.

The football match saw coaches from Faversham Town’s Juniors and Youth Squad take on a XI squad made up of Private Lewis’s fellow TA soldiers from HQ Company.

The winning team was then presented with 'The Tigers & Town Challenge Cup Trophy’ which was donated by Faversham Trophies.

Annette, who lives in Willow Avenue, managed to collect £850 from the event held at the Abbey School playing fields in London Road, which will go directly to the Regimental Welfare Fund.

Father-of-two Lewis, who is a former Abbey School pupil, is half way through a six month tour of duty.

The 30-year-old is a computer salesman who has served with the Territorial Army Battalion, The Third Battalion The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment (3 PWRR), based in Canterbury, for two years.

Osbourne Court care home worker Annette said: “It is such a difficult time for the whole family having Lewis away but we couldn’t be more proud of what he is doing. I wanted to do something that would keep me busy and do some good at the same time. Everyone was so supportive and hopefully there will be more charity events in the future."

See this week's Gazette and Faversham News for full report and more pictures.