About Us
How it all Began
My son Kristian was a fit, healthy and happy 18-year-old. On a night out with friends in September 2010, he was approached by a stranger looking for a cigarette, who then punched my son, just once, causing him to sustain a catastrophic brain injury.
Kristian was in a coma initially which he miraculously came out of after 7 days, and I thought he was at the start of his road to recovery. Kristian sustained a frontal lobe brain injury which affected his behaviour and he needed extensive rehabilitation.
I fought hard to get him into the best rehabilitation unit, based in Northampton, some miles from home, and carried out fundraising to help with travel costs so family and friends could visit him regularly. Although he was awaiting an operation for plates to be inserted into his skull, he seemed to me to be doing okay, and I eagerly awaited full rehabilitation to commence, and ultimately, believed I would be able to bring my son home.
After two months at the rehabilitation unit, Kristian started to lose weight and had little interest in anything. I became very worried about him and kept expressing my concerns to anyone and everyone who would listen. My brave beautiful son died on 10 July 2011, he was just 19.
Losing Kristian changed mine, and my family’s, lives forever. We live with the pain every day, that’s what a single punch over a cigarette caused. I set up the charity One Punch UK with my husband, Kristian’s stepfather who he never met, to campaign, educate and support others, in memory of my son, in the hope we can prevent another family going through what mine did.
Our Aim
One Punch UK envisions a nation without violence, where social violence is condemned.
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To raise awareness of the devastation that ONE PUNCH can do.
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To educate people about the risks and consequences of a split second decision to engage in violence.
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To harness the knowledge and life experiences of those affected by one-punch violence, to educate others.
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It helps people make safe choices, to recognise the warning signs of and deal with a potentially violent situation.
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Develop targeted intervention pathways for the perpetrators of social violence.
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We will work alongside other agencies who are campaigning against alcohol and drug fuelled violence.
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We will produce an education package to deliver in schools, colleges, universities, workplaces amongst other areas.
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We believe that if we start early in schools, educating children about the consequences of one punch, we will make a difference.
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We will support the victims of one-punch violence, which includes families and friends who have also suffered as a result. Maxine, Kristian’s mam, received very little professional support so this is an important part of the campaign.
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Kristian’s Journey believe that they have the experience to make a difference with the One Punch campaign.
