'Grief will not define' parents of soldier killed in Ukraine as they launch anti-bullying campaign

Callum's parents speak to ITV News' Sam Blackledge about grief, pride and their hope for the future.

The parents of a Cornish man who was killed while volunteering for the Ukrainian army say they "will not let grief define them" and are launching an anti-bullying campaign in his memory.

Callum Tindal-Draper was 22 when he lost his life serving with the foreign volunteer platoon against Russia, last month.

His parents, Steven and Caroline, said they tried to persuade him not travel to Ukraine.

"Obviously we didn't want him to go, but he was adamant," Caroline said. "In the end, after a lot of heart and soul searching - it wasn't an overnight decision, it was many years of us trying to persuade him not to go - we sat down, we listened to him, and we said we agree with you.

"And actually if we were in your time now, we would do exactly the same."

Callum's parents say he was adventurous and active as a young man. Credit: Family picture

Steven added: "On the morning he left, we had a huge hug and I said 'Callum, there are a million other things I'd rather you do, but I am so proud of what you're doing, so proud.'"As a teenager, Callum was badly bullied. His parents say this went a long way towards shaping his future."The outcome of that was that he vowed he would never ever be bullied again," Steven said.

"That went beyond just school circles and he started to look at what's going on in the world and he started to question 'Why are countries allowed to bully other countries?'"

Callum was the eldest of four brothers. Credit: Family picture

Caroline and Steven are raising money for a charity called 'Bullies Out', which aims to empower and inspire children.Caroline said: "We decided we weren't going to let grief define us. We are actually going to celebrate and embrace life.

"When we do have our down moments, we say, 'what would Callum do?' because he has inspired us so much.

"He had so many down moments as a teenager. And yet he picked himself up and he carried on. And that's what we are doing.

"Callum will always be part of our family, he's always going to be the eldest brother, the eldest son. But it's important to recognise that we do have three other children and we are there for them."