The nearby community where my sons went to school is in mourning today following the death of its bravest little lad, Liam Fairhurst aged 14. He passed away quietly at home in Soham  with his family and close friends present after battling cancer.

My son James has been reading the tearful messages left on the Liam Fairhurst fan club Facebook site, where he is described as “a true legend”. Those words couldn’t be truer. James knew Liam from school and said he was loved by everyone, he was that kind of boy with a golden smile.

For anyone who doesn’t know Liam, he started fundraising in 2006 with a sponsored one mile swim after undergoing gruelling treatment and an operation to remove a tumour in his leg. His target was £1,000, but he raised £12,000. He then appeared on ITV’s “Fortune Million Pound Giveaway” and was awarded £50,741 to fund a caravan in Yorkshire where families affected by childhood cancer can take a much deserved break. His story brought a tear to the eye of one of the panelists, Dragon’s Den millionaire Duncan Bannaytyne.

Liam continued his fund-raising, despite his illness, and ended up raising over £250,000 for the children’s cancer charity CLIC Sargent.

It was no wonder that last summer he won the Britain’s Kindest Kids title in a competition run by Five News and the Charities Aid Foundation. His prize was £1,000 pocket money and £1,000 in CAF Charity Vouchers.

And do you know what this totally selfless boy did with his money? He shared his good fortune with others. It brought a lump to my throat when I read about it here:

Liam said: “I’d like the other finalists to get some of the money because they deserve it too. I’d like them to have £200 for each of their charities. I’m going to spend £200 on something I’d like. I’m going to give each family member the same amount and spend the remaining £200 on something for all the family”.

Could there be a better role model for today’s young people? Impossible. Liam was a true legend, and I hope his kindness and selflessness will continue to inspire all those whose lives he touched. 

Why do children get cancer? It’s so cruel and unfair. I send my deepest sympathies to his heartbroken family who should be so proud of their wonderful boy and his outstanding achievements.