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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
(33 minutes later)
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.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.
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.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.
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. 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 a picture of a smiley face lay beside the white coffin.
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. The teenager, from Burntwood in Staffordshire, launched his fundraising appeal for the Teenage Cancer Trust with an original target of £10,000. But his cheerful resilience brought his campaign to a wider audience and it gained rapid momentum.
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."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."
It was that attitude which earned the highest praise and admiration, including from celebrities including Russell Brand, Simon Cowell, Ricky Gervais and Jason Manford.It was that attitude which earned the highest praise and admiration, including from celebrities including Russell Brand, Simon Cowell, Ricky Gervais and Jason Manford.
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."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."
Following a two-day vigil, Stephen's family are to hold a private funeral where they will say their final goodbyes. Following a two-day vigil, Stephen's family are to hold a private funeral where they will say their final goodbyes. His mother Jane asked people to join in a "Thumbs up for Stephen" event at 11am on Friday , echoing what became his trademark pose.
His mother Jane asked people to join in a "Thumbs up for Stephen" event at 11am on Friday , echoing what became his trademark pose. Some of Stephen's favourite music was played during the vigil, including Time of My Life by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes.
Some of Stephen's favourite music was played during the vigil, including "Time of My Life" by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes. Paying tribute, the Dean of Lichfield, the Very Rev Adrian Dorber, said that Stephen "in his all too brief life" had taught "how to make the unacceptable, beautiful". He added: "He chose to share his exuberance with us, not his pain."
Among those attending was Celia Houghton and her 14-year-old daughter Freya, who was at school with Stephen. The Dean said: "Stephen showed the sheer joy of existence in everything he touched, from being an A-star student at school with hopes of a career in medicine, to playing football, running cross country or playing the drums with his band Nothing Personal.
Houghton, wearing a yellow ribbon and wristband, said that although she never met Stephen his death had a profound impact. "He's been an inspiration and we all want to share in the sense of grateful, hopeful possibility … He was one of those very rare people who've helped us live our lives with generosity."
"I bawled my eyes out when I heard," she said. "I never usually give to charity but I did for him. Turning to the purpose of the vigil, he added: "Rituals and gestures don't change the world by themselves. But they can change us, and we can change the world."
"I just wish he had been my son - I wish I was half the person he was." Among those attending was Celia Houghton and her 14-year-old daughter Freya, who was at school with Stephen. Houghton, wearing a yellow ribbon and wristband, said that although she never met Stephen, his death had a profound impact on her. "I bawled my eyes out when I heard," she said. "I never usually give to charity, but I did for him. I just wish he had been my son – I wish I was half the person he was."
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. The Teenage Cancer Trust's chief executive, Siobhan Dunn, said earlier today 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.
"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.""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."