A grieving mother from Kingsbury will shake off her fear of heights to do a skydive on her late son’s 22nd birthday this Saturday.
Tracey Hanson will take the plunge in Norfolk in honour of Josh Hanson who was stabbed to death on October 11 last year.
The 21-year-old road planner was with his partner and friends inside the RE bar in Eastcote when he was knifed in an ‘unprovoked and motiveless’ attack.
His killer is still at large.
Ms Hanson, whose daughter Brooke will also take part, said she decide to do the jump as Josh has previously taken part ion a charity skydive to raise funds for Mia Ferreira, a five-year-old girl from Kilburn with cerebral palsy who needed specialist treatment in the United States to help her walk.
She said: “I haven’t flown for eight years so this is a very big thing for me to do as it’s completely out of my comfort zone.
“I am petrified about it but I know I will go through with it for Josh.
“In total there are 35 of us and all the funds raised will be used for an anti-knife crime charity that I am setting up in Josh’s name.
“His death will not be in vain.”
Days after Josh’s death detectives named Shane O’Brien as a suspect they would like to speak to and are offering £10,000 for information leading to his whereabouts.
The 27-year-old from Ladbroke Grove has not been seen since the killing.
Through the power of social media the hunt for O’Brien has gone global with posters bearing his image being placed around the world.
Ms Hanson added: “Everyone has been so amazing and I would like to thank them for all their support.”
Anyone with information about Shane O’Brien’s whereabouts should call the incident room on 020 8785 8099 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Click here for more information about the skydive.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here