The family of 14-year-old murder victim Jaden Moodie have backed the Mirror’s anti-knife campaign.
Jaden, a talented boxer, was riding a moped when he was hit by a car and then stabbed by three attackers in East London, in January, according to police.
He had moved to the capital from Nottingham the previous summer, and dreamed of becoming an entrepreneur.
His cousin Leon Green described him as a “loving, caring, bright young lad”.
Leon, a charity manager and former semi-professional footballer, 35, said: “I support the Mirror campaign 100%. We need to save our streets and save young people like Jaden, who have ambitions, dreams and a whole life to live.
“Jaden had ambitions at such a young age, including setting up his own clothing brand and helping the homeless.
“You could just tell by speaking to him that he was going places.”
The family are launching the Jaden Moodie Foundation to honour his life and give youngsters the opportunities that have become increasingly out of reach following Tory cuts to youth projects.
Dad-of-two Leon said: “I’ve spoken to these kids and they feel like no one really cares about them. They don’t have fear. They will go out and carry weapons and they don’t care because if they get stopped it’s just a slap on the wrist.
“There needs to be an alternative. They need to be shown discipline, more skills and education, and think about what it is that makes them want to pick up a knife and kill someone.
“If we are not going to look after these kids then what the hell are we going to do in 15 years time? It will be a warzone.”
Yousuf Dubbad, 21, from East London, and Ayoub Majdouline, 18, from Wembley, North West London, have been charged with Jaden’s murder. They are due to face trial in November.
