The sister of British soldier Lee Rigby has released a poignant tribute as the 12-year anniversary of his savage murder approaches.
Lee Rigby, who enrolled in the Army back in 2006 and served in Afghanistan from 2009, was only 25 years old when he lost his life to extremists Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale. Lee was off duty and dressed in civilian clothes when he became a victim outside the barracks; his attackers hit him with their car at high speed, followed by assaulting him with knives and meat cleavers, declaring “Allahu Akhbar” – God is the greatest – as they waited for the police to arrive.
Following a tense four-week trial at the Old Bailey, both murderers received life sentences, with the main perpetrator, Adebolajo, being condemned to spend his entire life behind bars.
This coming Thursday, May 22, marks a dozen years since this appalling act, and Courtney Rigby, in remembrance, expressed with deep sorrow: “My daughter will never get to meet her Uncle Lee.”
The 24 year old divulged how she plans to honour the memory of her brother this year, reports the Mirror.
To commemorate her brother’s legacy, Courtney Rigby is gearing up to participate in the Great South Run on October 19 and the Alton Towers Half Marathon scheduled for November 16. These strenuous runs form part of several fundraising efforts aimed at assisting military families in grief through the Lee Rigby Foundation.
Courtney, aged 24 and now a mum to baby girl Josie born in August 2023, shared with The Sun: “Since the Great South Run was cancelled last year, I feel like a run is owed and whilst I’m not sure I could manage a marathon just yet, I will be running the Alton Towers Half Marathon not long after the Great South.”
On the poignant memory of her brother Lee, she continued: “We lost Lee 12 years ago now and the place it left our family in was something nobody should ever have to experience. My daughter will never get to meet her Uncle Lee, but will know him through stories and other people and will see what his memory means in the fundraising done with him in mind”.
She also highlighted the success of the charity endeavours in honour of her late brother: “The Foundation has been going from strength to strength gaining more caravans and the more money raised means more retreats and more support for more families. Anything you can give is greatly appreciated.”
Lyn Rigby, mother of the slain Lee Rigby, had previously opened up in a heart-wrenching confession about how she maintains a connection with her son: “I have my own time every single day when I talk to Lee. I have a big photo on my wall, when everybody’s gone to bed, I usually have about an hour and I just look at his picture – tell him what I’ve done that day or what we’ve done, what the family has done, and then kiss him goodnight and then go to bed,” she went on to share, her voice filled with emotion, adding that Lee always has a reserved spot at the family dinner table too.
Lyn opened up about the family’s rituals on the poignant anniversaries of Lee’s death, sharing: “We usually go up to the crematorium, we lay flowers with Lee, we’ll get all the family together and go for a nice meal. But now, all the kids have left home now, it’s only myself and Ian left. We’re scattered all over so it’s hard to get us all together now and again.”
In a tribute to their fallen heroes, hundreds will unite next weekend for Courtney’s half-marathons in memory of Lee Rigby and fellow serviceman Scott Hetherington in the annual Combined Lee Rigby / Scott Hetherington and The Armed Forces Memorial Ride 2025. Hetherington tragically lost his life in Iraq in 2017 following an accidental shooting by another soldier.
The remembrance journey this year kicks off at the Asda in Rochdale at 11am on Sunday, May 18. Eager bikers from across Britain will ride through Heywood, reaching Middleton Memorial Gardens, where they’ll honour the soldiers’ memories with a service.
