GRIEVING mum Claire Newman has handed over thousands of pounds to a charity in memory of her son who died last year aged 31.

Mrs Newman, 52, from Market Lavington set out from The Wharf, Devizes and walked with five friends to Bath to raise money for Kidney Research.

Now she has been thanked by the charity for raising £2,382.34 with the help of her son’s partner Tami Franklin along with Sean Justice, Jemma Wallace, Jackie Crook and Danny Johnson.

John Newman died last December nine years years after his mother donated one of her kidneys to him. Her sacrifice allowed him to go on to meet partner Tami and have a son Kai but eventually the former Lavington schoolboy lost his battle for life.

She said the walk, which took about eight hours, was tough especially for the last couple of miles when she was in pain.

She thanked everyone who sponsored her and Mark Graham the owner of Brogans cafe who donated food for the journey.