A FAMILY still in mourning after a 21-year-old died of bone cancer have pledged to raise money for a small charity that sent him away on a memorable two-week holiday.

By Juliette Maxam

A FAMILY still in mourning after a 21-year-old died of bone cancer have pledged to raise money for a small charity that sent him away on a memorable two-week holiday.

Ross Pearce, of Carlton Road, Clacton, died last month after a three-year battle against bone cancer.

Doctors discovered Ross had the disease after he went to his GP complaining of a pain in his leg when he was 18 years old.

The young man underwent gruelling chemotherapy treatment and had part of the bone in his leg removed and replaced with a titanium prosthesis. He was unable to return to his job as a chef and became a barman.

Over the next three years Ross got on with his life, making friends with other young cancer victims and helping them to come to terms with their illness.

Chaz Crispin, a friend since his schooldays at Clacton High School, said: "Ross was one of the most courageous people I will ever meet. We all know he had many problems, but he never wanted anyone to know how bad he really felt.

"Time and again I would ask him: 'How are you really?' But I always got the same answer: 'I'm OK'. Ross never focused on his own problems, but was always interested in how other people were. For me this was one of Ross's most admirable qualities."

In August last year he went away on a two-week all expenses paid holiday to the Canaries with his girlfriend, courtesy of the Clare Sadler Trust.

The Trust is a charity set up to send teenage cancer victims on recuperative holidays.

The weekend before Ross went to the Canaries, doctors discovered a fresh tumour in his shoulder. On his return it was confirmed the cancer had spread and this time his lungs were affected. Doctors told him the outlook was bad.

But Ross's father, Colin, said his son had thoroughly enjoyed his two weeks in the Canaries.

Now the family want to raise money for the Clare Sadler Trust so it can help send more youngsters away on dream holidays.

They are still trying to come up with an event, but are considering having a balloon race, as they had wanted to release balloons at his funeral earlier this month.

Mr Pearce said the family wanted to raise money for one of the smaller charities that helped Ross.