An Otley family will say goodbye to their amazing six-year old son today.
Harry Buckley was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a rare form of childhood cancer, in 2011 and underwent months of treatment including a major operation.
His condition was declared terminal last March, but The Whartons Primary School pupil spent the next year cramming fun-packed and creative experiences in regardless.
Harry lost his fight last Tuesday while holding his mother, Sarah’s hand with his father, Paul, and younger brother, Callum, close by.
Harry’s funeral will be held at All Saints Parish Church, in Otley, today, Thursday, April 17 at 1pm.
Sarah, in the blog the family have been running since Harry was diagnosed, wrote: “We told him how brave he had been and what an amazing son he had been, but told him the time had come for him to fly high up into the sky and leave his body that didn’t work anymore.
“We told him it was time for him to find that special place where he will get a new body and where he can run as fast as he can.”
She added: “Forever 6 Harry my beautiful boy, now you are no longer in pain. Fly high.
“We love you to the stars and back and a zillion times round the world, always and forever.”
Paying tribute to her son's inspiring fighting spirit, she said he reminded her “of the knight from the film Monty Python and The Holy Grail, the one that had his arms and legs cut off but was still determined to fight and not give up.”
The Buckleys, including four- year old Callum, organised a series of fun days for Harry to make sure he had some great times and they could all build some precious memories.
Now Sarah is hoping the book Harry wrote during his final months will ensure his memory lives on, while raising money for a cause very close to his heart.
Proceeds from Runaway Joey! will go to Nuzzlets farm, which takes animals into Martin House Children’s Hospice for the children to hold and stroke.
The book costs £5 and can be bought at uk.virginmoneygiving.
com/HarryBuckleyandfriends .
Today’s funeral service will be followed by a private cremation at Harrogate, with the family releasing balloons in Harry’s memory at High Royds Social Club, Menston, at 3pm.
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