A MOTHER who has raised awareness of knife-crime since her son was murdered ten years ago says more still needs to be done to help grief-stricken families.

Theresa Cave's son Chris was stabbed to death in June 2003 at the age of 17.

She set up the Chris Cave Foundation in his memory and has campaigned tirelessly against knife crime.

Ms Cave, 48, said she is thrilled that her surviving son, Tom, is going to London on Tuesday (March 26) to receive a prestigious volunteering award for his emotional plea to teenagers about why they should not carry knives.

The 12-year-old was only a toddler when Chris was stabbed, but has travelled the country with a police project called Point 7 telling youngsters how his own childhood has been devastated by the death of the brother he hardly knew.

Tom said: "I say, “Do not be like me, sad and lonely, you have got a life and people around who love you."

His accolade has been a rare ray of light over the past decade for his mother, who is campaigning for funding to get bereavement counselling for children exactly like her own.

“Kids see their mothers and fathers in so much distress but they are going through it too,” said Ms Cave, from Redcar.

“One might curl up in a ball while another could be smashing windows. People think they have ADHD but actually they are grief-stricken and don’t want to add to their parents’ pain.”

To raise money for charities Through Unity and knifecrime.org she is organising a entertainment night on June 13 at Whale Hill Social Club in Redcar with an appearance by Benidorm actress, Chrissy Rock, and an anti-knife fun day on Redcar High Street on June 22.

June 5 marks the ten-year anniversary since Chris was killed.

Ms Cave shares her tragic story with Tom at educational Point 7 events.

“Ten years ago I dreamed of opening a centre for kids where we could not just knock knife crime out of their heads but we could help give them a future through work experience and placements to get jobs,” she added.

“Ten years later I am still still fighting for it, I’m praying that after 20 years it will happen.”