A charity for knife crime education is hosting its third car festival to raise awareness and help save lives.
The event, MIKES Motor Mania, was created in memory of Mike Allen who was fatally stabbed outside a nightclub in Bodmin, Cornwall in 2023.
Mr Allen’s family said the weekend-long car event was inspired by one of his “great joys in life” and any donations would help promote the prevention of knife crime.
His father, Kevin Allen said the festival was “even bigger and better than last year” and he was “so humbled that it’ll be in honour of him.”
The charity, Michael’s Initiative for Knifecrime Education in Society (MIKES Trust), said: “He [Mike] was an innocent bystander to a street brawl, but he stepped in to stop a man when he started using a knife to attack people, and due to his bravery, he paid with his life.
“As Mike died trying to help and make a difference, MIKES Trust is trying to do the same and make a difference to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”
The event started on Saturday with guests taking part in a scenic drive as a convoy along Cornwall’s coastline, with further activities scheduled on Sunday at Perranporth Airfield.
Mr Allen said: “As Mike had three great joys in life, cars, surfing and rugby, we came up with the idea of MIKES Motor Mania last year to celebrate Mike and campaign for the change in attitude everyone needs to make around the casual carrying of a knife.
“This change will come from education and community, and this forms the backbone of all our events.
“There will be hundreds of people there to celebrate him and raise awareness on the cost of knife crime, it’s what he would have wanted.”