Two Young Lives, One Powerful Call to Action

Five-year-old Benedict Blythe, a joyful child who loved school, tragically died in December 2021 after an allergic

reaction at Barnack Primary School. An inquest revealed he was exposed to cow’s milk protein, likely via a contaminated

oat milk cup, and that staff failed to follow his allergy care plan or administer life-saving medication in time. His mother,

Helen, now leads the #ProtectPupilsWithAllergies campaign, demanding urgent reform in allergy management and school emergency protocols.

Meanwhile, in southern Indiana, four-year-old Maverick Lee Flinn lost his life in a tragic farming accident. While visiting his great-grandfather,

Maverick and his 68-year-old great-grandmother were fatally struck by a tractor. Known for his bright spirit and warm hugs, Maverick’s

loss devastated his community. In his honor, family and neighbors came together to harvest wheat in a single day. His loved ones also

launched the “Maverick Minute,” a campaign urging farmers to pause and check safety measures before operating machinery.

Though their deaths occurred worlds apart, both Benedict and Maverick leave behind legacies of love, awareness, and advocacy.

Their stories are a call not only to grieve but to act—protecting children and making the spaces around them truly safe.