“If moving forward I can stop one family dealing with this awful loss then I will be happy.”

Those were the words of Zoe Mitchell, the grieving mother of 18-year-old Owen Dunn who was stabbed to death while on the way to visit his girlfriend in December last year. 

Zoe works for Midcounties Co-Op and she recently spoke to her employer for a profile on her story, and how she and her family have helped form Owen's World Foundation- a community interest company dedicated to tackling knife crime in the area. 

She told them that the campaign and everything it had done so far to try and prevent young people from carrying knives and stabbing each other had 'kept her going'. 

"Owen Thomas Dunn was the youngest of my two boys. He was the light and soul of my family’s life," she said.

"He would do anything for anyone, from cutting grass for neighbours to doing jobs for his nan. He was very close to his brother Luke and was a proper joker with the most infectious laugh. He loved his French bulldog Jazz and she misses him so much.”

After helping to launch the Owen's World Foundation in March, Zoe has supported several fundraising efforts including a Spring Fayre in April, family members running marathons or fighting in charity boxing matches and a fun run. 

“We have raised nearly £7,000 so far. It’s a long road ahead but it keeps me going," she told Midcounties Co-Op. 

Some of that money has already been put to good use with the acquisition of two potentially life-saving bleed control first aid kits, the first of which has been installed in the John Moulton Hall Community Centre in Penhill. 

"Each bleed cabinet costs £510 and contains everything you need to stem a major bleed. You access it by dialling 999, they then give you a code to access the kit inside and talk you through how to use it until an ambulance can attend. Unfortunately, there was nothing like this in place for Owen. Those vital minutes can stem a bleed and save a life.”

It has been just over six months since the young man's death and his family are still coming to terms with his loss. To mark this they all 'lit a candle for Owen'. 

Looking forward the organisation is hoping to achieve charity status and is planning its biggest event yet, a family fun day at Swindon Supermarine on July 29. 

If you would like to find out more about Owen’s World email owens_world@outlook.com or visit the Facebook page here - https://www.facebook.com/owensworldcic