Stephen Sutton: 'inspirational' teen cancer campaigner dies
The 19-year-old raised more than £3m for charity before losing battle with bowel cancer
STEPHEN SUTTON, the 19-year-old who raised more than £3m for charity, has lost his battle with bowel cancer.
The terminally ill teenager hit headlines last month when his bucket list plea to raise £10,000 for the Teenage Cancer Trust went viral and raised more than £3.2m in days.
His mother Jane wrote in a statement on his Facebook page today: "My heart is bursting with pride but breaking with pain for my courageous, selfless, inspirational son who passed away peacefully in his sleep in the early hours of this morning, Wednesday 14th May.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"The ongoing support and outpouring of love for Stephen will help greatly at this difficult time, in the same way as it helped Stephen throughout his journey."
Within an hour, more than 125,000 people left their condolences beneath the post and donations on Stephen's JustGiving page soared by thousands of pounds.
News of his death came barely an hour after a trust set up in memory of Princess Diana announced that it was honouring him with its Diana Award – given to young people who have had a monumental impact on the lives of others, reports The Times. More than 35,000 people had also signed an online petition calling for him to be knighted.
Stephen’s bowel cancer was discovered when he was 15 and he was told early last year that his cancer had spread and was incurable.
The 19-year-old had admitted feeling angry with doctors who initially misdiagnosed his condition as constipation, allowing the cancer to advance. But he added: "I'm not one to dwell on the past. It is what it is."
After coughing up a tumour and undergoing successful surgery, he had appeared to make what he described as "a miraculous recovery" and was discharged from Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital on 2 May. However, he was readmitted to hospital last weekend suffering "breathing difficulties", due to the re-growth of tumours blocking his airways.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
7 drinks for every winter need possible
The Week Recommends Including a variety of base spirits and a range of temperatures
By Scott Hocker, The Week US Published
-
'We have made it a crime for most refugees to want the American dream'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
Was the Azerbaijan Airlines plane shot down?
Today's Big Question Multiple sources claim Russian anti-aircraft missile damaged passenger jet, leading to Christmas Day crash that killed at least 38
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Home Office worker accused of spiking mistress’s drink with abortion drug
Speed Read Darren Burke had failed to convince his girlfriend to terminate pregnancy
By The Week Staff Published
-
In hock to Moscow: exploring Germany’s woeful energy policy
Speed Read Don’t expect Berlin to wean itself off Russian gas any time soon
By The Week Staff Published
-
Were Covid restrictions dropped too soon?
Speed Read ‘Living with Covid’ is already proving problematic – just look at the travel chaos this week
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Inclusive Britain: a new strategy for tackling racism in the UK
Speed Read Government has revealed action plan setting out 74 steps that ministers will take
By The Week Staff Published
-
Sandy Hook families vs. Remington: a small victory over the gunmakers
Speed Read Last week the families settled a lawsuit for $73m against the manufacturer
By The Week Staff Published
-
Farmers vs. walkers: the battle over ‘Britain’s green and pleasant land’
Speed Read Updated Countryside Code tells farmers: ‘be nice, say hello, share the space’
By The Week Staff Published
-
Motherhood: why are we putting it off?
Speed Read Stats show around 50% of women in England and Wales now don’t have children by 30
By The Week Staff Published
-
Anti-Semitism in America: a case of double standards?
Speed Read Officials were strikingly reluctant to link Texas synagogue attack to anti-Semitism
By The Week Staff Published