A SISTER is challenging herself to honour her marine brother who was killed in Afghanistan to make sure he “lives on” through her.

Katie Sparks, of Lindsey Street, Epping, says not a day goes by where she doesn’t think about her beloved brother, Georgie.

He was just 19 when he was conducting a foot patrol in Helmand, Afghanistan when there was an attack by insurgents armed with rocket-propelled grenades.

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The former sniper’s family, including dad Wayne and mum Toni, have never got over his death.

Katie, now 31, who is two years older than her brother, said: “I was at work and my dad called me and said something had happened.

“The pain was like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. Nothing has ever come close since.”

She added: “He was an inspirational person. We were really close. He looked out for me.

“He’d say I was his little sister even though I was older. He’d do anything to protect me and I can’t believe I won’t see him again.

“I still haven’t got over it and I take each day as it comes. I miss everything about him.”

When Georgie was killed, there was only one medic available to tend to him and another marine – Tony Evans – who was also killed in the attack.

As a result, Katie decided to become a Navy medic to honour her brother and stop another family from going through what she had to suffer through.

But just one year into her training in 2011, the reality of going to Afghanistan hit home.

“He might have already been dead, I’ll never know – but if there was an extra pair of hands there, would he still be alive?”

She said. “But one year into my training I realised I could die too.

“I thought about how my parents would feel, they’ve already lost a child out there. What if I didn’t come back, or I came back disabled and needed them to look after me?”

Now she is pouring her efforts into making sure she remembers him with unique tasks.

She added: “I’m challenging myself to do things that aren’t everyday things.

“I’m scared of heights but I went bungee jumping in New Zealand. I want to do things my brother would have loved to have done, so he lives on through me.”

Next year, she is running the London Marathon in his honour and hopes to surpass her £2,000 target – even though she hates running.

Her running challenge will see her support the Royal British Legion’s poppy appeal.

She added: “Georgie will be the person who gets me through this. I’m doing this for him more than anything.”

Donate at www.justgiving.com/Katie-Sparks2