Joe Dix, 18, was fatally stabbed in Vale Green, Mile Cross, in January 2022 by Hans Beeharry, Benjamin Gil and Cameron Palmer, who were each convicted of murder.
Cameron Palmer, Hans Beeharry and Benjamin Gil (Image: Norfolk Police)Joe’s parents, Emma and Phil Dix, have since launched the Joe Dix Foundation which aims to use Joe’s story to raise awareness of the dangers of exploitation of young people by criminals, knife crime and the culture of gangs in the UK.
Emma Dix (Image: Submitted by the family of Joe Dix)The charity is working alongside Norwich City Football Club and the emergency services to organize a memorial football tournament hosted by Wroxham Football Club.
Wroxham Football Club (Image: Newsquest)The event will see an all-star team from Norwich – which will include Grant Holt and Wes Hoolahan – take on teams from the emergency services and Joe’s Friends at Wroxham’s pitch at Skinners Lane on Monday May 6.
Joe Dix (Image: Submitted by the family of Joe Dix)Phil said the tournament was the brainchild of Joe Duffy, a Norwich City under-21 player, who “wanted to do something” in Joe’s memory.
Joe Dix playing football as a youth (Image: Submitted by the family of Joe Dix)It is hoped the tournament will help the charity raise some of the £30,000 it wants to spend on a mobile exhibition vehicle with screens inside as well as screens and televisions.
Phil said this would allow the organization to travel to schools and other community venues to deliver important messages.
A young Joe Dix (Image: Submitted by the family of Joe Dix)
It is the latest in a series of events organized by the fledgling charity which earlier this year won the support of TV and film star Idris Elba, himself a prominent anti-crime campaigner with a knife, during a national initiative against knife crime in London.
Idris Elba (inset) with Phil and Emma Dix and Joe Dix (inset) (Image: Provided by Joe Dix’s family)Phil and Emma said the star “looked really shocked when he heard Joe’s story”, adding that “he would try to support the foundation in any way he could”.
In October last year, Beeharry, then aged 20, was sentenced to life with a minimum of 20 years and Gil and Palmer, both then aged 19, were sentenced to 21 years in prison after been found guilty of the murder of Mr. Dix.
Vale Green sealed off after Joe Dix stabbed to death (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)The memorial tournament event will take place at Wroxham Football Club between 1pm and 5pm on Monday 6 May.
Log on to www.joedixfoundation.co.uk for more information.
