SHE died at the hands of her brutal boyfriend in a murder which stunned a close-knit Hampshire community.

Now the tragedy that ripped apart the family and friends of Joanne Guy is being turned into a positive drive to help other women break free from violent relationships.

This week, in which the bubbly mum of one should have been celebrating her 31st birthday, plans for a fundraising walk in her memory will be launched.

The emotional stroll around Netley's Royal Victoria Country Park will be led by her 54-year-old mother Sue Middleton, who is determined to ensure something positive comes from Joanne's death.

The event, called Jo's Big Beanie, will raise cash for Southampton Women's Aid and will be spent on local projects helping women and children who are victims of domestic violence.

A row between then 29-year-old Jo and her boyfriend Gavin Henty came to a savage end when he strangled her with his bare hands and the cord from a mobile phone charger at the flat they shared in Eastleigh High Street.

Last March Henty, a 24 year-old warehouseman, was handed a mandatory life sentence for her killing, with a recommendation he serves at least 13 years.

Henty, who admitted manslaughter but had denied murder, was convicted at Winchester Crown Court.

Ever since the harrowing ordeal of that court case Jo's family have been determined to turn their tragedy into a positive way of helping others.

On Sunday, July 11 it will be an emotional moment for all who knew her when the fundraising walk gets under way at about 11 am.

Details of the country park walk, which will include a special pack, will be launched on Wednesday, June 2 which would have been Jo's 31st birthday.

Setting the scene for the fundraiser, Sue said: "Faced with the loss of Jo and the horror of how she died we realised we needed to do something.

"Something to ensure that our lovely Jo is not destined to be just another victim, another statistic.

"We could not bear to let her life slide by without some kind of remembrance, one last beanie."

Sue hopes that people will spare a day to walk in the park for Jo, stroll around the grounds and have a picnic.

She added: "This walk is dedicated to Jo and if it helps just one woman find the strength to break free from a violent relationship then Jo will surely rest in peace."

Statistics show that cases of domestic abuse that lead to the death of a partner make up a huge proportion of all the murders in this country.