THE friends and family of a murdered teenager will pay tribute to him this weekend by releasing balloons in his memory.

Eddie O’Rourke died on Friday night after being attacked outside the Royal British Legion in Runcorn.

Loved ones will remember the 18-year-old with a balloon launch at 6pm on Saturday in the area known as Mini Wembley on Stockham Playing Fields, before gathering at the legion in Halton Village.

Louise Wilson, the mum of Eddie’s girlfriend Olivia, said that her daughter had been ‘broken’ by the teen’s death.

She said: “Olivia is struggling – she’s not eaten and hardly slept since Friday, she is broken.

“It was only a day apart from his dad dying three years before, and Eddie became the man of the house and helped his mum so much – he has five brothers and sisters, all young.”

Meanwhile, a fundraising campaign to ‘take the financial burden away’ from Eddie’s family and ‘show how much people are rocked by this tragedy’ has raised more than £2,000.

And a Facebook page urging youngsters not to carry weapons – Live Your Life, Drop the Knife – has gained more than 1,500 members over the weekend.

It is believed that Eddie – of the Clough – was stabbed at an 18th birthday party at the social club.

Louise is now looking for help to print t-shirts bearing the slogan, and is seeking the assistance of businesses in the area.

She added: “This can’t continue – people are ruining lives.”

Police were called to the scene at 8.30pm on Friday, September 7.

Eddie, who had five younger brothers and sisters, was taken to Warrington Hospital by ambulance but later died.

His family are being supported by specially-trained officers.

Three teenagers from Runcorn – aged 15, 16 and 17 – who were arrested on suspicion of murder remain in policy custody.

To donate click here, or to join the Live Your Life, Drop the Knife campaign click here.