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Stephen Sutton vigil to celebrate young cancer victim's life and inspiration Stephen Sutton vigil to celebrate young cancer victim's life and inspiration
(about 9 hours later)
An inspirational teenage cancer victim's memory will never be forgotten because of the example he set in facing the terminal disease, a charity boss has said. Mourners haveturned out in force to celebrate the life of Stephen Sutton, the inspirational teenage cancer victim, on the day his fundraising campaign reached £4m. Hundreds gathered outside the cathedral in Lichfield, Staffordshire, to witness the arrival of a horse-drawn carriage bearing his body.
A two-day vigil will begin on Thursday at Lichfield Cathedral in Staffordshire for Stephen Sutton, who succumbed to multiple tumours on 14 May after raising almost £4m for the Teenage Cancer Trust. Stephen, who died two weeks ago aged 19, is lying in a place of honour inside the cathedral until Friday, after the family requested that the public be allowed to celebrate the life of a young man whose bravery in the face of death touched people across the world. Mourners had been asked not to wear black.
The trust's chief executive, Siobhan Dunn, said it was difficult to overstate the importance of Sutton's work in raising awareness about the disease in young people. As his hearse arrived, drawn by four white horses resplendent in yellow headdresses, there was spontaneous applause from the crowd. A bright yellow wreath bearing the icon of a smiley face lay beside the white coffin.
Wellwishers will be able to pay their respects and say a final goodbye to the 19-year-old, whose dignity and zest for life in the late stages of his disease attracted attention across the world. The teenager, from Burntwood in Staffordshire, originally launched his fundraising appeal for the Teenage Cancer Trust with a target of £10,000. But his cheerful resilience brought his campaign to a wider audience and it gained rapid momentum.
"I think what's really important is Stephen will never be forgotten because he, like every young person who is diagnosed with cancer, lives on in the work that we do," Dunn said. "They're a very important part of our work and Stephen's an extraordinary young man who has had the most incredible impact on the lives of so many young people with cancer. Before his death, Stephen, who was diagnosed aged 15, said: "I don't see the point in measuring life in terms of time any more. I'd rather measure life in terms of making a difference."
"I think it's really important there's a public celebration of Stephen's life and I think that's exactly what he would have wanted. It was that attitude which earned the highest praise and admiration, including from celebrities including Russell Brand, Simon Cowell, Ricky Gervais and Jason Manford.
"He was looking for us to put the fun into his funeral so hopefully we're going to do that." David Cameron visited Stephen in hospital. Following the teenager's death on 14 May, the prime minister said: "I'm deeply saddened to hear that Stephen Sutton has died. His spirit, bravery and fund-raising for cancer research were all an inspiration."
Sutton's smiling face is portrayed on numerous pictures inside Lichfield Cathedral, and a team of volunteers have dressed the stone dais where his coffin will lie in bright yellow and white flowers. Following a two-day vigil, Stephen's family are to hold a private funeral where they will say their final goodbyes.
Dunn said it was right to celebrate Sutton's life and that he would not have wanted it any other way. His mother Jane asked people to join in a "Thumbs up for Stephen" event at 11am on Friday , echoing what became his trademark pose.
"It's just a wonderful opportunity, and the family are delighted to be able to give people the opportunity of coming together just to celebrate his life," she said. Some of Stephen's favourite music was played during the vigil, including "Time of My Life" by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes.
Sutton's mother, Jane, has asked that people do not wear black to the vigil, and to "do something to make others happy". Among those attending was Celia Houghton and her 14-year-old daughter Freya, who was at school with Stephen.
Sutton, who was diagnosed with bowel cancer at the age of 15, spent the rest of his life raising awareness about the disease in young people and had embarked on a bucket list. Houghton, wearing a yellow ribbon and wristband, said that although she never met Stephen his death had a profound impact.
Before his death, he said: "I don't see the point in measuring life in terms of time anymore. I'd rather measure life in terms of making a difference." "I bawled my eyes out when I heard," she said. "I never usually give to charity but I did for him.
Dunn said Sutton's example in maintaining a positive outlook had been as important as the money he had raised. "I just wish he had been my son - I wish I was half the person he was."
"Often, like Stephen, young people deal with their cancer illness with great humour and it's very important to have a positive mental attitude," she said. The Teenage Cancer Trust's chief executive, Siobhan Dunn, said Stephen's memory would "never be forgotten" because it would live on through the charity's work. "I think it's really important there's a public celebration of Stephen's life," she said, "and I think that's exactly what he would have wanted. He was looking for us to put the fun into his funeral, so hopefully we're going to do that.
"It's something Teenage Cancer Trust really focuses on in terms of the services and support that we provide. "Lichfield Cathedral is such a beautiful space and it's an opportunity for people especially from the local community who have been so incredibly supportive towards Stephen and all his family to come along and pay their respects and to celebrate his life."
"We build units for people to come together and get support from other young people in an environment that's as non-clinical as possible, and young people supporting other young people is absolutely critical. It's a really important part of our work."
She said Sutton's family had told her they had been overwhelmed by the public's outpouring of love and goodwill.
It is estimated that as many as 40,000 people may attend the vigil.