Messages of support to a mum with "unimaginable heartache" have flooded in after her son was stabbed to death in a park.
Daniel Gee-Jamieson was just 16-years-old when he died from a single stab wound at a park just off Belle Vale Road in Gateacre in July 2018. Earlier this week, the ECHO spoke to his mum Mandy about how she vowed to keep her son's memory alive and helps others through their unimaginable grief.
Mandy said as Daniel lay in his mum's arms, he said: "Mum, I just want to go to sleep." Since the article was published on Monday, messages of support have been sent to Mandy and support for the vigil of reflection, which will remember the lives lost through violence, which will take place on September 23 at 6.30pm at Liverpool Cathedral.
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Writing on the ECHO Facebook page, Deborah Jean Walker said: "So very, very sorry for the loss of your beautiful boy my heart breaks for you all sending love to you and your family." Janet Aindow also said: "Mandy you are amazing and one very strong woman with a very big generous heart for preventing others from suffering the unimaginable heartache like you and your family are. I'm truly sorry for your loss."
Lyndsey Porter said: "My heart breaks for that poor mother RIP to your beautiful boy." Colette Leatherbarrow added: "My heart goes out to his amazing Mum, helping others after something as awful as this."
Since the tragedy, Mandy has set up Danny’s Place, a social enterprise keeping her son's memory alive and speaking to young people about the wider effects knife crime can have on all those involved. Mandy told the ECHO: "We were trying to open a community centre but that didn't work out.
"I now deliver talks on the ripple of knife crime and what I try to show kids is that when you see someone has been killed, all they see is the headline but no-one sees the damage it causes to families and it's sad. I ask them to put their mum in my position and up to now it's been really good, you can see in the kid's faces they are impacted by it.
"I recently launched the knife angel in Birkenhead as well and that went well, it all means a lot because all of my grief went into Danny's Place. If I can stop one child picking up a knife that would mean the world to me. I'm proud to talk about Daniel, it's what he deserves."
Inviting all those who know someone impacted by violence, there will be a series of live music performances, poetry readings and speeches by those who have been affected by violent tragedies. The service is open to the public and those attending will be encouraged to light a candle at the venue and contribute to a book of condolence to share memories of their loved one.
This year's event is expected to be "bigger" as Mandy added: "Last year I was approached about a national remembrance day to all victims of youth violence and we had eight weeks to prepare, it was really good. This year it will be better.
"Our kids, and all loved ones lost, especially with young Olivia Pratt-Korbel and Ava White, their lives need to be celebrated. Each year in Liverpool, we want to celebrate our loved ones and without Mayor Joanne Anderson and the violence reduction team, we wouldn't have been able to do this. The support she has given me is 100%.
"I want all families impacted to come along and we want young Olivia's mum to know we are all here for her and she's not alone. That's another reason I want families to come together. Victim's families get left and this is an opportunity to celebrate our loved ones. Hopefully we wont have any more victim's families but our children did exist."
The poignant event will see bereaved families come together and celebrate the lives of their lost loved ones, paying tribute to those lost too soon, as well as spreading the message that people are "not alone".
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