PARENTS of 12-year-old Jack Wilkinson, who died after losing his battle against cancer, say they were moved to tears by a special assembly held in his memory by his school friends.
PARENTS of 12-year-old Jack Wilkinson, who died after losing his battle against cancer, say they were moved to tears by a special assembly held in his memory by his school friends.
Caz and Karl Wilkinson today paid tribute to the seven youngsters, who are also fundraising for East Anglian Children's Hospices and Wish Upon a Star charities as part of celebration of Jack's life.
Jack, of Fairfield Avenue, Felixstowe, was first diagnosed with a rare form of bladder cancer when he was just two and spent much of his life in and out of hospital.
Mrs Wilkinson said: “Jack's dad and I were moved to tears when we went along to Deben High School to see Jack's friends when they performed their special tribute assembly for Jack.
“We were touched by how much Jack meant to them all and how they now want to raise money in his name.
“Jack himself would have been very humbled by their lovely tribute and very pleased to know that they are now raising money for charities in his name.
”We told them after the assembly that Jack would also want them to be happy and enjoy their lives to the full as he had.”
She said the youngsters should be very proud of themselves and their efforts, and the family sent them a huge thank you for their heartfelt tribute.
Jack had only been a pupil of Deben High in Garrison Lane for a short while, but he had many friends among the pupils who knew him at Colneis Junior.
They put together a computer power-point presentation featuring pictures of him, showing how he made the most of his life right up to his death, and talked about things he did, his sense of humour, how he was loved by everyone who knew him and the great inspiration he was.
The family moved to Felixstowe from Wiltshire in 1997 and for the next eight years everything seemed fine as Jack's disease went into remission.
But in April 2005 they were hit with the bombshell that the cancer had returned. Scores of tests and trips to hospitals followed and then four months ago the family were given the news they had dreaded as doctors said he had only a short time to live.
What do you think of the students' fundraising? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk
When You Wish Upon A StarEast Anglian Children's HospicesDeben High School
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