Bleed kit fundraiser in memory of stab victim, 17

Harleigh Hepworth died after being stabbed in a park in Wolverhampton on 7 March

A fundraiser has been set up in an attempt to make more bleed kits available in and around Staffordshire, in memory of a 17-year-old boy who was stabbed to death earlier this month.

Harleigh Hepworth from Rugeley was found with fatal stab wounds in West Park, Wolverhampton, on 7 March.

The older sister of one of Harleigh's close friends has now set up a fundraiser to enable more bleed kits to be placed around the region.

Cara-Lee Bunn told the BBC that she hoped having more bleed kits would make a difference and make people feel safer.

Ms Bunn, who set up the fundraiser with campaigner Mackenzie John, said: "The more we have means more lives that can be potentially saved.

"If one bleed kit had been available for Harleigh at the time [of the attack], who knows what could have happened?"

Ms Bunn said she was concerned for her brother's safety in the wake of the fatal attack, and now worries whenever he leaves the house.

Speaking about the impact the 17-year-old's death had on the community, Ms Bunn said: "Everybody's just so sad. I've cried for days on end.

"We walk past the tribute in Brereton Park and people are just crying. I go down there every day."

"I looked after him like he was my own brother," Ms Bunn said

The 23-year-old from Rugeley said that Harleigh had spent lots of time with her and her brother after losing his mum.

"He was always around our house, we'd take him to football," she said.

"He was a very close friend to my brother and a popular lad in Rugeley.

"I looked after him like he was my own brother. Months before, he'd said to me, you're like my big sister."

Ms Bunn said she had hoped the fundraiser would reach £120, but it has already surpassed £500, which she said was incredible.

She said each bleed kit would cost £110.

Mackenzie John, a boxing coach from Rugeley, has been an anti-knife campaigner since he was almost stabbed in 2023.

Mr John had gone for a walk with a woman he used to know when they ran into her ex-boyfriend.

He said he had a "dodgy feeling" and was then cornered by three men, one of whom had a knife.

"I went for a nice walk and the next minute, I'm nearly getting stabbed," he said.

"I just kept running. Someone found me shook up, hiding in a farmer's field."

Mr John, whose younger brother used to play football with Harleigh, said: "I was thinking how we can get more bleed kits out there. A bleed kit could have potentially saved Harleigh's life."