The mother of a 14-year-old boy from Lewisham who died from an allergic reaction to popcorn has launched a campaign in the hope it prevents others from experiencing their terrible loss. 

Ruben Bousquet was just 14 when he died in 2019 after to an allergic reaction to dairy ingredients in popcorn on a trip to the cinema with his father.

Ruben’s story will be the focus of a new campaign named Judith’s Wish, launched today (December 1) by the Kent- based charity Allergy UK.

The fundraising appeal calls for better labelling on food and drinks and seeks to raise awareness of people living with allergic diseases like Ruben.

Ruben’s mother, Judith Bousquet, said: “Ruben was our son, a brother, a hockey player.

“He loved life, this shouldn’t have happened to him.”

This campaign marks the first national campaign Allergy UK has launched in over a decade.

Judith will be in attendance when the campaign opens tonight with a carol concert in Christ Church, Petts Wood, which will feature the Military Wives Choir.

Judith added: “My wish is for better testing and better labelling of food and drink products, so no other family experiences what we have gone through.

“That is why this campaign with Allergy UK is so important.”

Attendees will also hear a reading of Ruben’s poem ‘Hope Still Remains’ read by Barry James, coach of London and Kent-based Inline Skater and Hockey team London Knights, who Ruben formerly played for.

Head of fundraising at Allergy UK, Jon Rodriguez, said: “Still too many families are affected by the debilitating consequences of living with allergies, which in some cases can be fatal.

“Despite this, there is still a huge unmet demand within health services to support people living with allergies.”

Any donations made to Judith’s Wish will continue to support the 41 million people in the UK living with allergic diseases that the charity supports.

Jon added: “It's time for the UK to take allergy seriously, and we're very grateful that Judith has granted permission for Ruben’s story to be shared to highlight why it is so crucial to do so.”

Funds raised will continue to help raise awareness about allergic diseases, the need for better labelling in the food industry and provide support for families like Judith’s.

Judith said: “This shouldn’t happen to anyone’s child. We live with this every day, and we don’t want any other family to experience this pain or this loss.”

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