Five years on parents of Oliver Steeper continue to share dangers of choking
Ashford-based Lewis and Zoe Steeper have provided over 2,000 anti-choking devices since 2021
The Oliver Steeper Foundation was founded by Lewis and Zoe Steeper following the death of their son Oliver, who choked at a nursery in Ashford in 2021.
Speaking on what inspired them to start the work, Lewis said they were sent a video of the choking safety devices after their son was hospitalised:
"The idea was planted when a company sent me a message while we were in hospital. And then it was only when we looked back later on after the funeral, that I kind of said 'look at this.'
"I thought, what about if we could do something similar in putting one of these into every single nursery?"
Since then The Oliver Steeper Foundation have provided Lifevac anti-choking devices to over 2,000 people across the country, starting with another Ashford nursery and expanding over time.
On the work of the charity, they say that donations are appreciated, but what matters most is spreading awareness through Oliver's story.
Speaking to Hits and Greatest Hits Kent Zoe said:
"'When we talk to people at events and they just kind of say, you know, 'what is this?'
"And they learn about it and then they take away a booklet...That is everything.
"It's just one more person that knows about it, one more person that may or may not buy it, but one more person that at least can sort of spread our cause and talk about Ollie.
"And that is just- you can't put a price on that."
Oliver's legacy can also be seen in the children who, through the use of LifeVac devices, have had their lives saved. Something the couple say has been incredibly touching to hear about.
The Steeper's say that going forward they plan to continue their work to put as many anti-choking devices across the UK as possible.