KNIFE CRIME VILLA PARK TO WEMBLEY WALK (MAY 27th)

My name is Ken Campbell and i am a mentor/sports coach/ youth worker working for Sporting Elite CiC in the Birmingham area, I attend 8-10 different schools & youth hubs a week and can only see the issue of knife crime-youth violence getting worse. Many different factors are to blame for this. But regardless of that the problem needs tackling.

I am doing this walk as a way to raise awareness that the issue needs addressing in a big way and to raise funds to fight the growing problem of knife crime on our streets in the UK. Being born in the 80s and growing up in the 90s/2000s I've seen the problem become bigger and more uncontrollable with time. As a teenager knife crime and youth violence was a growing problem and now as a adult having worked with young people wether through sport or in schools for the last 10 years the issue that was not addressed early doors is now out of hand. 

From Monday 27th May I will be walking 137 miles from Aston villas home pitch Villa park to Wembley stadium the home of football in England via The Grand union canal. The reasons I have chosen these destinations is football is one of our main tools to help us engage with the young people. The walk will take place over 3 to 4 days walking for a minimum of 10hrs a day. Stopping over night and then begining again. Birmingham to London by foot. 

Hopefully people see this is a ongoing battle against this issue and this will be the first of many more fundraisers to combat this issue.

I'm looking to raise £50,000 to begin with and then continue to raise as much as possible through other walks to different football stadiums to help the victims of knife crime through helping with funeral costs and also help with the prevention of knife crime through helping organisations who work with young people to take on apprentices and deliver prevention workshops.

I hope everyone else sees the issue that Is in plain sight on our own streets that doesn't seem to going anywhere anytime soon.