I was moved as I watched the BBC morning program with Dan Walker interviewing Dr Gee Walker, the mother of the late Anthony Walker, the 18 year old student who dreamed of becoming a lawyer before his life was cut short by an unprovoked, racially motivated attack on the night of the 29 July 2005 in Huyton, Merseyside. Dan Walker asked Gee Walker how she coped and she replied that it was her Christian faith that belief in a God of grace and love that inspired and encouraged her. In the evening I made the decision to watch a program that I have never watched before ‘The Pride of Britain awards.’ During the program we were able to watch celebrities and inspirational people from everyday life. There was the young boy who has slept in a tent for nearly two years raising money for a hospice in Devon. His efforts have enabled eighteen extra hospice nurses to be employed as he has raised over £600,000. Last evening he was treated to camping out in Twickenham Rugby ground! The previous evening his family enjoyed staying in a hotel in London as he spent time on the balcony in his tent! Another marvellous award went to the brilliant scientists who created the vaccinations in Oxford that has led to hope as the world faces the challenges of COVID 19.
The story of Dee Walker though is inspirational. On her birthday this year she was given an envelope by her family. When she opened it she discovered that she had been awarded ‘The Pride of Britain Award.’ Anthony Delano Walker was a black British student of Jamaican descent who was brutally murdered during the second year of his studies for his A levels. His mother said he was loving, selfless, caring and wise and was even helping her pay the bills. When he was murdered Gee went through what must be every family’s nightmare. To lose a loved one in a unprovoked and violent way because of the colour of his skin. Gee responded by setting up the Anthony Walker Foundation which tackles racism, and supports those experiencing hate crime and builds safer stronger, thriving places to live. The vision is of a global society where race, religion and ethnicity can thrive alongside each other. Gee and her family established the foundation so ‘That the memory and legacy of Anthony lives on and all that he loved and aspired to is not simply forgotten.’ The Foundation in Merseyside is committed to making a difference to challenge prejudice, discrimination, inequality and instead promote peace, harmony and integrity.
‘…the memory and legacy of Anthony lives on and all that he loved and aspired to is not simply forgotten.’
Dr Gee says that ‘It’s not easy to forgive, but compassion and love must be at the heart of what we strive for. What we consider once impossible can become possible if we believe, if we have faith and we work together.’ The Foundation has worked with 40,000 young people in schools in the last five years and is now seeking to go beyond Merseyside to go around Britain. The television programme awarded £20,000 to the Foundation to support the vision. Dianne Parish from East Enders (Gee is a big fan of the Soaps) said emotionally as she awarded the prize ‘Your capacity to take pain and turn pain into hope and action is an inspiration for every single one of us.’ Gee replied that ‘Grief can consume you and control you, and I thank God that he has given me the strength and not allowed it to control me.’ This was a powerful and inspirational story of a lady who has turned hate into love and has acknowledged the part her Christian Faith has played in her life. Gee says, ‘By God’s grace he gave me the strength and forgiveness on losing a child, by God’s grace I will bless the Lord at all times.’ I suspect that Dr Gee’s life and response will have more impact than a million sermons.
Blessings,
Fr Jeremy
Father Jeremy's Journey 
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