Karen Upton was devastated when her hero husband, Sean, was killed in action. Now, nearly 18 months on, she is changing lives with her charity work. Andy Walker reports.

THE Uptons – mother Karen and her children, Ewan and Hollie – still talk about him every day.

Warrant Officer Sean Upton, killed by a bomb in Helmand Province, in July 2009, aged 35, remains a huge influence on their lives.

Since the shock of his loss, Mrs Upton has dedicated herself to their two children – and others facing similar heartbreak.

Such has been the impact of her efforts, for causes like the Forces Children’s Trust and the Army Benevolent Fund, that she has been shortlisted for the national Tesco People’s Choice Mum of the Year award.

The family is still very much at home in Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, where WO Upton, who served with 5th Regiment, Royal Artillery, was based.

After her husband’s death, 34- year-old Mrs Upton received details from his regiment of the various support and advice networks available to her.

The Forces Children’s Trust, an organisation that supports bereaved children by offering days out, holidays and counselling, immediately stood out.

She said: “I called the trust to find out what it involved.

“I thought it could be a great support for Hollie and Ewan, but I also thought it might be something that I could help with.

“Living in the garrison, I knew there was very little support for children who had lost parents and I decided that, if I could help my own and other children, this was something I should do.”

Mrs Upton became increasingly involved with the trust and is now its voluntary co-ordinator for the North-East region.

She spends her spare time increasing awareness of its work and raising funds, from organising raffles and pamper days to undertaking an 80-mile bike ride in November 2009.

Mrs Upton recently set herself one of her biggest challenges, registering to run the Swaledale Marathon, in June.

Another upcoming project involves creating a charity calendar for 2012, featuring her friends naked but for body-painted Army uniforms.

She said: “Every time I start a new project, I feel Sean pushing me on. I’m so glad I’m able to help my own family, and other families who are going through the same thing. I know Sean would be proud of me.”

On the day of her husband’s funeral, Mrs Upton became the first person to be presented with the Elizabeth Cross, an honour created to recognise forces personnel killed in the service of their country.

During the emotional service, WO Upton was described by his commanding officer as an “exemplary soldier and man”.

In a poignant moment, a poem, written by the children, was read out: “My dad, Sean, he was a hero.

He was just like Rambo.

He was the best. He beat the rest.

But now he is gone. Where is he?”

Reflecting on how the loss of their father has affected her children, Mrs Upton said: “Ewan has grown up a lot since then. He has this protective feeling towards me and his sister.

“Holly is a happy little girl, she just gets on with it.

“They are both doing well at school – I am so proud of them.”

Members of the public can vote for Mrs Upton in Tesco magazine’s Mum of the Year awards, which recognise hard-working mothers all over the country.

She was nominated for the award by her sister, Lisa.

Now in their sixth year, the awards have a people’s choice category that allows the public to support one of the three finalists.

The mother with the most votes will receive the award at a ceremony at he Waldorf Hilton Hotel, in London, next month.

■ Voting closes on January 25.

For details, visit facebook.com/mumoftheyear