Lasting legacy to honour boy, 14, who died after playing deadly choking game

Todmorden High School student Jack Pickles (above) died in February after playing the game - also known as “the good boys game” in his bedroom.

In the months since Jack’s death, his mum Selina Booth has fought tirelessly bring the game to national attention.

And she hopes the charity - which will be named by Jack’s friends - will help her do just that.

Mrs Booth (left), who is a sales rep at Nestle in Halifax, said: “It’s going to help me go into schools across the country to get the awareness out there, but while I’m in those communities, I will hit the doctor’s surgeries, the police, community groups. The police need to know what to look out for when they come across an unusual scene.

“The response so far has been fantastic. On Sunday, the worldwide choking awareness game day, me, my mum and about 25 kids went round Todmorden Market, the kids went to the park and into the churches to get the awareness out there.

“We managed to raise about £250 towards the charity, but we need about £5,000 to register. It would be amazing if someone could sponsor us to help us get there and I’d love to get it set up as soon as possible.

“I really feel like we are making progress. Everybody we have spoken to has never heard of the the game and we say neither did we until Jack passed.

“People are shocked when they find out about what happened to me and how we lost Jack.”

Mrs Booth found her son lying dead in his bedroom on February 2 and said that’s the day “her life as she knew it ended”.

“It doesn’t get any better, but raising awareness keeps me going in a big, big way, knowing I never have to look in another mother’s eyes and the same has happened to her,” she said.

“I still cry every night and every day, I still think he should be here, but this is Jack’s way of saying ‘it’s OK mum, I’m OK’. It keeps me thinking I’m here to do this.”

Mrs Booth believes Jack found out about the game through Youtube and has urged other parents to look out for the warning signs.

They include: blood shot eyes, marks on the neck, moles that are bleeding, participants locking themselves in their rooms or wanting to be alone more, participants covering their necks, and hearing loud bangs in the night.

She added she is determined to get the danger message out there and plans to raise it with Prime Minister David Cameron.

More than £1,000 has been raised towards the £2,000 target for a bench and shelter in Jack’s memory. To donate to the cause - with any extra funds going to the ‘Make a Wish Foundation’ and Todmorden Youth Club - visit fundrazr.com/campaigns/6xfC5

And if you would like to help with the charity in any way, please contact Selina Booth at [email protected]