THE mother of an Abergavenny soldier who died two years ago after fighting for his country in Afghanistan says she could not have coped with his loss without a charity’s aid.

Hazel Hunt, whose 21-yearold son, Private Richard Hunt, died in 2009 while serving with 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh, said she recently found it difficult to cope and last week attended a course run by the charity Talking 2 Minds.

Pte Hunt died a few days after being wounded by an explosion in Helmand.

Since his death, Mrs Hunt has focused on raising as much money as possible for the charity set up in her son’s name.

The Richard Hunt Foundation raised £50,000 in its first year and was founded with the aim of helping Welsh servicemen and women and their families.

But Mrs Hunt said it was shortly after her son’s inquest last September that things began to change.

She said things slowed down as it approached winter including on the farm where she and husband Philip live and work.

“Everybody has moved on but you’re left with the legacy that you neither wanted or asked for. It became really difficult,” she said.

Mrs Hunt said this gave her time to focus on what she had lost and she said it became a “downward spiral”.

She said she was not coping and that it was noticed by Mr Hunt and their daughter Fee.

“I got angry and then burst into tears. You literally lose that centre of control and feel like the world and his wife is against you,” she said. Mrs Hunt and another bereaved mum travelled to Wigan to attend a three-day course last week run by Talking 2 Minds. The charity helps those suffering posttraumatic stress disorder or other stress-related illnesses and has helped more than 300 soldiers. “I was crying when I was going through the door on the Monday morning. It didn’t matter what I talked about I just couldn’t cope,” she said.

Mrs Hunt said the course was about teaching her to relax and she took part in activities like yoga and art therapy.

She said: “It’s not a magic cure but it’s retraining yourself to learn what you can control and what you can’t.

“Philip has seen the difference straight away, I’m much more settled, calm and happy.”

Mrs Hunt said her charity work has been a positive result of something which was so tragic and negative.

“I couldn’t control what happened to Richard but I can control how I deal with it,” she said. Mrs Hunt said she nowhopes more soldiers can benefit from these sort of courses.

She added: “I have been on the course and it does work.

The fallout of war is still something that has to be dealt with.

“It’s no good us having this ‘stiff upper lip and just get on with it’ attitude – that help needs to be there,” she said.

  • BOB Paxman, from Talking 2 Minds, said the charity was looking into the possibility of using the Hill Education and Conference Centre in Abergavenny to run its courses.

“It’s an option and if it does come to fruition, it will be really beneficial to the people of Wales.”

Festival’s this weekend

THE Richard Hunt Foundation is currently busy preparing the Welsh Warrior Two Fest-ival, which will take place in Bailey Park, Abergavenny on Saturday.

Last year’s festival raised more than £12,000 for the charity and Mrs Hunt said she hoped this year’s event would be even bigger and better. Local bands will perform, as well as X-Factor finalist Katie Waissel.

Tickets cost £10 for adults, children under 12 go free when accompanied by an adult and tickets for OAPs and children aged 12 to 14 cost £5. For more information, seewww.welsh warrior.

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