AFC Bournemouth will be launching a new anti-knife crime initiative at tomorrow's game...
Two years on from the tragic stabbing of lifelong Cherries fan Nicholas Ormerod, the club is proud to be supporting the launch of a charity created in his memory at this Saturday’s home match against Notts County.
30-year-old Ormerod was stabbed to death in April 2011, and since then the number of knife related incidents and deaths are on the increase.
Upon the realisation that there was no charity helping to raise the awareness of knife crime in Dorset, the youngster’s family set up Turn Your Back on Knife Crime in September 2012, before finally becoming a charitable organisation in February.
The charity will be officially launched this Saturday (6th April) at the Goldsands Stadium, with raffle tickets being sold for the opportunity to win a signed shirt at half time.
Jane Ormerod, Nicholas’ Mother said, “Losing a child is the hardest thing imaginable, but to lose them through an act of violence is very hard to come to terms with.
"Knives destroy the lives, not just of the immediate family and friends but whole communities. I believe that by working together through education and sports activities, we can raise awareness to the devastation that Knife Crime causes.
"Our aim is to go into youth clubs, schools and hostels to educate them on the dangers of carrying knives, in the hope we prevent more lives like that of Nicholas being lost again.”
Commercial director at AFC Bournemouth, Rob Mitchell, added, “I was saddened to hear the story of Nicholas’ death when I first met his mother Jane, and as a huge AFC Bournemouth fan himself, we felt that the club would provide the perfect opportunity to launch the charity.
“As a football club we have a commitment to the community to work with local charitable organisations, and we are delighted to help support the launch of Turn Your Back on Knife Crime.”