Dubbed the next Beckham and future England international, he was a prolific goal scorer who brought out the best in his team mates. On 18 May 2006 he was stabbed to death outside his school as he tried to break up a fight. His life, in a brief second, was taken by a teenager with a knife.
Now his mother, Tracey Cumberbatch, is launching a campaign, supported by The National Youth Agency, to combat the violent crime on Britain's streets. The campaign, "One Minute in May", aims to hold a minute's silence before the final Premiership and Championship games in May 2009 to honour the young victims of violent crime.
Tracey also hopes to persuade as many players as possible to wear black wristbands during the game. Several footballers, including Leon and Carl Cort, have already signed up. Tracey's goal is to get 80,000 children and young people (the number required to fill Wembley Stadium) throughout the country to pledge never to carry a weapon by wearing the same black knife crime awareness wristbands. She will be taking her message round the country to schools, youth clubs, prisons and football grounds in some of the UK's most affected cities - Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Glasgow, Nottingham and London.
Following Tracey's journey will be award-winning film and music video director Wayne Campbell, who will be making a documentary about her progress. The aim of the film is to promote awareness of the effect of carrying weapons and to act as a catalyst for change by showing young people that they do not have to join gangs or engage in violent acts to get the respect of their peers.
- Find out more information about the Kiyan Prince Foundation at www.kiyanprince.org or from Wayne Campbell at wacfoo@yahoo.co.uk. Tel: 07956 841 929.
