THE mother a North-East teenager who died ten months after being attacked in a nightclub toilet is launching a One Punch Awareness Week as she marks what would have been his 27th birthday today.

Kristian Thompson of Burnopfield, County Durham, was just 18 when he was punched at the K2 nightclub, in Consett, County Durham, on September 4, 2010.

The single blow resulted in a catastrophic brain injury: Kristian never fully recovered and died in July 2011.

Since his death, his mother Maxine Thompson-Curl has formed One Punch UK and has campaigned tirelessly to raise awareness of the devastating impact one-punch attacks can have.

She also provides support to those people who lose their loved ones in similar circumstances.

The family will gather in their home in Whitburn, on South Tyneside today, where they will spend time in their garden, a favourite family location.

Maxine said: “It is a horrible time of the year for us, but we have organised the first One Punch Awareness Week around Kristian’s birthday to make make people are aware of the devastation one punch assaults can cause.

“We are going to celebrate his birthday by using this week to the best of our ability to get the message out.”

She also revealed she is writing a book about her experience, called Kristian and Me and based on notes she made after the attack.

Maxine said: “It’s happening all the time. At least 35 families have been affected by tragedy arising from one-punch assaults in the UK in the last ten years.

“Kristian’s death doesn’t get any easier. The more the years go by, the more time I have to reflect and think about what Kristian would have been doing – now at the age of 27.

“I think about what me and Kristian have missed out on. I don’t have any grandchildren. My life is so much different to what it was.

“We went through this trauma. It was absolutely horrendous. I wouldn’t want anybody to live the way that I have had to live.

“It was just a needless act and people have to think about their actions and the consequences.”

Maxine takes her message to schools, prisons and to people on probation.

She said: “Sometimes its falling back and hitting your head that causes the injury and sometimes its just the contact of the punch on the head.

“When you hit someone you could have them trying to survive a catastrophic brain injury and their life will change forever.

“Your life will be affected too. Because it won’t be the same if you go to prison or you are living with the fact that you have killed someone on your mind.

“When we go out to schools we talk about the implications of alcohol and tell children not to use drugs because usually it is the nighttime economy where these assaults take place.

“You become vulnerable to yourself and to other people if you don’t know what the effect of alcohol has on you.”

Maxine added: “Often it is a spur of the moment act. It is about stopping and thinking and walking away.

“When you talk about knife crime, it is horrendous what is going on. But with one punch crime you are not picking a weapon up. It is already there. And we weren’t given our fists to throw around. You just have to think and know what respect is about.

“Lifting your fists is a step closer to tragedy. So we say to children don’t use your hands as weapons. Stop, think and walk away.”

Maxine will be posting 27 photographs of Kristian on her Facebook page today and has invited friends to send any to her.

The charity will host a networking day at the Falcon’s Rugby Club in Newcastle, from 2.30pm on Wednesday and will be visiting schools and organisations on Thursday and Friday.