SIX serving police officers have completed a 71.449 kilometre walking challenge and raised more than £9,000 in memory of their friend, colleague and former Thurrock-based policeman PC Ewan Smith.

As reported on Thurrock Nub News, last year, PC Ewan Smith died at the age of 36. In March 2020 he had been unable to attend work due to a headache. Later that day he suffered a sudden seizure and was rushed to hospital. Tragically, 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. Along with Natalie and the boys, Ewan's parents and three sisters were left heartbroken by his death.

At 7pm on Saturday 1 May, 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 and began their 71.449 kilometre walk, in tribute to Ewan's police collar number, 71449.

The team made their way to Grays Police Station, where they had worked together with Ewan, passing through Hadleigh, Benfleet, Pitsea and Stanford-le-hope, arriving at their halfway point during the early hours of Sunday, 2 May. After eating some much-needed food, tending to their sore feet and treating a couple of minor injuries, the team set off again.

As they made their way towards Chelmsford, 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, where they stopped for their last break 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, having walked 71.449 kilometres across Essex in his memory.

"It was hard work" said an exhausted PC Andy Gore, who had planned the route for the team.

"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."

Having originally set out to raise £2500 for Ewan's wife and three sons, the team have now raised more than £9000 for the family.

"We have been completely overcome by everyone's generous donations" said Detective Sergeant Charlie Cronin.

"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"

If you would like to donate the visit the team's Just Giving page.