Fundraising walk in memory of murdered couple

The family of a man from East Sussex who was murdered alongside his wife in their home are walking 66 miles (106km) overnight in their memory to raise money for Victim Support.

Josh Bashford, 33, was killed alongside his wife Chloe, 30, at their home in Newhaven which they shared with their four children on 9 June 2023.

To mark three years since their deaths, Josh's family are walking the Vanguard Way from Croydon to Newhaven non-stop.

They are raising money for the charity Victim Support's National Homicide Service, which gives lifelong support to families bereaved by murder and manslaughter.

Josh's father Andrew, his brothers Billy and Luke, his sister Natasha and her partner Josh will set off from East Croydon railway station at 07:30 BST on Saturday.

Supported by Josh's mother Sharon, they aim to arrive at Newhaven Town station around lunchtime on Sunday.

Natasha said: "This will be both a physical and emotional journey, carried out with Josh and Chloe in our hearts every step of the way.

"Josh and Chloe were kind, loving, and devoted parents whose world revolved around their children."

Andrew said the family was learning to "accept a new normal" of life without Josh and was trying to do something positive in his and Chloe's honour.

Victim Support is an independent charity dedicated to supporting victims and witnesses of crime and traumatic incidents in England and Wales.

Its homicide service offers an assigned caseworker to support families through the criminal justice system, financial assistance and links to bereavement and trauma counselling.

Natasha said: "They're a charity you never think you would need until something as awful as losing someone you love to homicide has happened to you.

"I can't say where I would be today without them. My support worker Jamie has been fantastic, like a really supportive friend, always taking the time to listen."

Andrew said the charity's service had been "invaluable" since the family found themselves "at a complete loss".

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."

The family has so far raised £4,000, exceeding their original target of £1,000.

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