JUST three weeks after receiving an award from Prince Harry for his courageous battle against cancer, "inspirational" Laughlin Whiteley, died in hospital at the weekend after catching a severe lung infection.
Seven-year-old Laughlin, known as Lockey, died at 6.30pm on Saturday (October 12) at Great Ormond Street Hospital.
It was only a few weeks after his family learned his cancer had returned after twice beating the disease before.
The sudden death of the Burnham-on-Crouch youngster has led to an outpouring of grief from those who have followed his brave fight against both a brain tumour and leukaemia, as his family shared their story to raise more than £10,000 for charity.
Posting on social media, Lockey's mum Andrea Poyser wrote: "Laughlin passed away this evening.
"He was surrounded by his mummy and daddy. Pain free, fly high my angel of sunflowers. You brave strong warrior, I know you have entered heaven and are surrounded by love.
"We are taking you home now my brave son to be at home where you belong."
She later wrote: "Laughlin's spirit lives on, it truly does. I miss his little voice in the morning. He is now in his room with his world around him. I've been wanting him home with us for over nine weeks and now John and I brought him home last night."
On Monday, September 22 Laughlin managed to make it to the ceremony for the annual WellChild awards, where he was awarded the Most Inspirational Child of the Year award, meeting Prince Harry. This was despite suffering a relapse of the blood cancer, and being treated in Great Ormond Street Hospital at the time.
Lockey had first been diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2011 but, following successful treatment, it was found he had treatment-related acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) last November, which he beat once again in April this year following a stem cell transplant.
Family friend Michelle Richardson, who was part of the Unlock a Life for Lockey charity, which promotes stem cell donation and raises money for families of children going though cancer, said: "He was courageous, inspirational, and always looked on the bright side, he was always making people laugh.
"On his last day he was saying 'I love you mum, I love you daddy, I love you nan and granddad' and when the nurses came in he threw his arms up and said 'welcome'."
The family has raised more than £10,000 for cancer charity Brain Tumour UK in the past two years, and a separate £2,000 for Delete Blood Cancer UK in the past year from donations to Unlock a Life For Lockey.
The youngster also devised the charity's craft boxes. Full of play, art and craft activities, they are given to children undergoing cancer treatment, as they can be in hospital for weeks.
"It was Lockey's idea, he wanted to help other children," added Michelle.
"I don't know another family in the world like it; they are incredible. The funeral will be a celebration of Lockey's life."
A memorial service open to the public will take place on Saturday at 6.30pm, at Millfields, in Burnham, while a Book of Condolences will also be placed in Creeksea Church.
The next Unlock a Life for Lockey event is a ball to be held at Stockbrook Manor Country Club, Billericay, on Saturday, February 7.
For more information, or to make a donation go to www.unlockalife forlockey.co.uk
