The memory of a young Metford boy who died of sudden heart failure four months ago is to be immortalised by his mother who, battling drug addiction, was unable to share much of his life with him.

“Lovable larrikin” Jye Lassiter, 15, died on the floor of his Metford home on April 27 after his heart stopped beating.

The youngster had won the love of Metford teenagers, and several hundred people attended his funeral.

The Metford skate park he made his haven is still coated with lashings of graffiti: “RIP Jye.”

Now his mother Kim Lassiter, who has been off drugs for four years, has vowed to ensure her son’s memory lives on, and in a way that will help young people in Metford.

Ms Lassiter plans to hold a skateboard competition at Jye’s beloved skate park, where a plaque will bear his name.

The funds Ms Lassiter raises will be part of a campaign to enlist the help of Jye’s friends to ensure broken glass in the skate park is cleaned up and graffiti is washed away.

She has won support from Maitland Mayor Peter Blackmore, who told the Mercury: “I believe a lot of young people in Metford look up to Ms Lassiter and I have encouraged her in her positive role.

“She wants to do something in memory of Jye and both Maitland City Council and I have been advising her about running a skateboard competition.

“Most young Metford people who knew Jye would not have experienced grieving before,” Cr Blackmore said.

“I applaud Ms Lassiter for the responsibility she has shown since losing her son.”

Ms Lassiter told how her addiction to speed had robbed her of her children, and of every chance to live a happy life.

“People make bad choices in life and I made bad choices for a long time, both with drugs and with living in violent relationships,” she said.

“Jye was about five when I began taking speed.

“This addiction took everything from me, including my children.

“Even though I have been clean for four years now, my children are still not with me.

“But mud sticks, and the mud of my past clings to me even though I have changed my life completely.

“I want the world to know that Jye was not on drugs and that he died of heart failure.

“But to many people, his memory is smeared with my past.”

Ms Lassiter, who is back at TAFE, said she was grateful she had been able to spend valuable time with Jye in his last year.

“We were able to spend time together. We became the best of friends.

“Now I want to walk among people with my head held high.

“The best way I can do that is to give something back to the community who loved my son so much.

“And I know Jye would want that too.”