Community hero mums make a real difference in the battle against knife crime.

Teenagers losing their life to knife crime on our streets is something we sadly are all too familiar with. Everyday a stabbing takes place across the capital and another family experiences the heartbreaking pain of losing a child to knife crime.

Here, in Havering and across east London and Essex, we have worked throughout the year alongside anti knife crime campaigners Sue Hedges and April Hayden, Peguy Kato and Julie Taylor who have all tragically lost a member of their family and now spend their time campaigning against knife crime and donating bleed bags and units.

Sue Hedges and April Hayden launched the Ricky Hayden Memorial earlier in the year to raise money to buy Daniel Baird bleed bags to donate to the community. Peguy Kato launched All Champion’s Charity five years ago in memory of her murdered son Champion Ghanda and is currently building an orphanage in his name to give as many children as possible a good start in life. Julie Taylor is from the Liam Taylor Legacy in memory of Liam Taylor who lost his life to knife crime in 2019 and spends every possible moment battling the horrors of knife crime.

It is thanks to ladies such as these, that a difference is made in our society. Their endless determination and selflessness in battling the horrors of gangs and knife crime is what is making an impact to members of the community. Their dedication to the anti knife crime cause is unbeatable and they are often found on our streets each week working with communities either handing out life saving bleed bags, or making their voices heard about the horrors of knife crime.

To bury your own child is probably one of the hardest things you could do, and all of these mums have done that. Despite the heartbreak they have faced, they continue to support others and do everything possible to stop another teenager from losing their life.

The Havering Daily has spent this year working alongside all three mums and watching them make an important impact across our communities. So many businesses across Havering, east London and Essex have London Ambulance approved life saving bleed bags. As well as colleges and other organisations who have all happily received a bleed bag that is a vital life saving tool very much needed in our communities.

It is mums like this that are the real community heroes, mums such as these that are making that vital difference in our society, mums whose total commitment has now finally been recognised by those who need to be addressing knife crime.

Well done to Julie, Peguy Sue and April for being incredible community champions and providing communities with support and vital life saving tools to help fight the horrors of knife crime.

Remembering Champion Ghanda

Remembering Ricky Hayden

Remembering Liam ‘Fish’ Taylor.