A FORMER homeless man is urging as many people as possible to attend a vigil to mark a year since a man's body was found in a tent in Worcester.
Hugo Sugg, who established the '#JusticeForCardon' campaign, hopes people will gather for the 'Flower Vigil' near the cricket club in New Road this Wednesday between 3pm and 4pm in memory of Cardon Banfield.
The spot is close to where Mr Banfield's body was found and the purpose is both for people to pay their respects but also to increase public solidarity with homeless people and rough sleepers to make sure something like this never happens again.
Organiser Mr Sugg, 26, who was homeless in Hereford for three months at the age of 18 following a relationship breakdown said: "Cardon's body was found in a tent, alone, decomposing a year ago this Wednesday but unfortunately no family or next of kin were around."
Mr Sugg said 'the community of Worcester are his family' and urged them to come along in the hope that greater awareness can prevent similar tragedies in future.
He added: "The public coming together it means that Cardon's life and memory won't be forgotten. Homelessness is on the rise and this could happen to anyone. Summer presents extra challenges for the homeless, and so does loneliness."
Mr Sugg, who knew Mr Banfield and worked with him at the city's YMCA in 2013, has invited members of the pubic, organisations, politicians and religious leaders to come along and pay their respects to the 74-year-old who he said 'deserved to be treated better'.
Mr Sugg said: "No organisation, authority or person has come forward and accepted responsibility for this tragedy, meaning that Cardon Banfield would be put to the back of people's minds and forgotten about - however the grassroots #JusticeForCardon campaign has kept Cardon's light glowing and his memory alive."
His body was so badly decomposed he could only be identified from his DNA. He was found in his tent near Worcestershire County Cricket Club by one of the club’s stewards.
The tent had been pitched by a footpath running alongside the river and Severn Bridge car park.The Worcestershire coroner recorded an open conclusion into his death last October.
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