On Friday 9th October 2026, our family’s lives were turned completely upside down. In one unthinkable moment, our beloved Bradley Whieldon was cruelly and suddenly taken away from us due to knife crime, aged just 19 years old.

The pain of losing Brad is unbearable, especially for his amazing mum and dad, Charlotte and Simon. Brad was their absolute world, and the hole left in their lives, and all of ours, can never be filled.

Brad was simply the kindest, most selfless, funniest person you’d ever be lucky enough to come across. To his little cousins, Brad was even more than that. He was their only cousin, their absolute biggest supporter, their ultimate protector, and the one who was always there to bring the fun and pure joy. He was simply the best they could have ever asked for, always standing by them. Now, they want to be there for him.

To honour his beautiful memory and ensure his legacy leaves a lasting impact, his cousins, Arabella and Lyla, are stepping up to fight the issue that took him from us. They are raising vital funds for Ulysses Youth and Community CIC, an incredible grassroots organisation in Stoke-on-Trent. Ulysses Youth specifically focuses its efforts on children and teenagers - the exact demographic most vulnerable to the pressures of gang culture and knife crime. They target at risk youth before violence takes hold. They work as part of an alliance, partnering with local charities like The Hubb Foundation and Black Onyx Academy. Together, running safe spaces, youth boxing, multimedia programs, and intensive anti-knife crime workshops. They give teenagers the vital mental resilience, mentorship, and positive alternatives they need to resist peer pressure and choose a path away from weapons.

Please Join Us: The Memorial Walk

To help raise these funds, Brad’s little cousins, Arabella and Lyla, are doing a 3-lap / 3-mile sponsored walk around Westport Lake on Saturday 14th November at 12 noon.

They would like to warmly welcome as many people as possible to join them on this walk. Whether you knew Brad personally or simply want to stand with our family to honour his memory, please come along. We want this afternoon to be a time of unity, where we can share stories, remember the joy he brought to this world, and walk side by side against knife violence.

If you cannot join us on the day, please consider donating. Every single penny raised goes directly toward helping Ulysses Youth protect other vulnerable children in Stoke-on-Trent, keeping our streets safer so no other family has to have their lives turned upside down like ours.

‘Braggeley’, your cousins loved you more than words can say, and they will always, always love you, just like we all do.

In memory of Brad, forever 19 ❤️