A heartbroken mother is urging parents to kiss their children and tell them they love them as she marks her son’s first birthday since he died in a motorbike crash.

Cambs Times: The floral tributes at the scene of the accident on the A1065 near the Desert Rats Memorial at Mundford. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYThe floral tributes at the scene of the accident on the A1065 near the Desert Rats Memorial at Mundford. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Archant)

Jake Kane was 18 years old when his motorbike was in collision with an HGV lorry last October when he was on his way home to Feltwell after visiting friends in Norwich.

The former student of Ormiston Victory Academy at Costessey, near Norwich could not be saved after the accident on the A1065, near the Desert Rats Memorial at Mundford.

His mother Marianne said there was a hole in her life, and she was more upset than normal as it would have been Jake’s 19th birthday.

Ms Kane said that when she broke down at work last week she was comforted by her manager Julie and colleague Lisa. And that is when she decided on a campaign to urge parents to show their love for their children.

“I felt the need to ask Julie to kiss her son as I can’t kiss Jake,” she said. “I thought it was a nice thought that someone else’s child is getting an extra kiss on Jake’s birthday.”

The campaign, called A Kiss for Jake, aims to bring some good from the tragedy.

“That Friday I said goodbye to Jake thinking he was going on a normal trip to see his mates in Norwich, and from then on I can’t ever kiss him to say I love him again,” she said.

“You don’t realise you might not be able to again at the time. I hope this makes me feel something good has come out of him not being here on his birthday.”

She hopes the campaign will bring people together.

“Jake had a lot of ghosts, personal insecurities, but I always tried to make him feel secure and would never give up on him. All children, particularly teenagers, need to be kissed and told how much they’re loved.”