A memorial service is planned for popular trainee electrician Billy Lee who died from an aggressive form of cancer.
His grieving parents Spencer and Bex Lee say everyone is welcome at the service, which will be held on Saturday June 4 at Wisbech St Mary Church.
The family have been overwhelmed by the messages of support and sympathy from the community, that took Billy to its heart 18 months ago when his family launched a £70,000 appeal fund.
The 21-year-old, who was born in Surrey, died unexpectedly last Tuesday (May 17) at the family home in Wisbech St Mary.
His devastated parents paid tribute to Billy describing him as “the most caring, hardworking boy” who always put other people before himself.
The Liverpool fan lost his right leg and part of his hip after he was diagnosed with sarnovia sarcoma, a rare and particularly aggressive form of cancer, in November 2014.
His family were determined Billy would be back on his own two feet and launched the appeal to buy a state of the art bionic leg.
The community responded with a huge wave of generosity donating over £70,000 in just eight weeks and Billy was fitted with his new leg in September 2015 ready for his 20th birthday.
“Billy was just so grateful to everyone who helped support the fund. He was always saying how much he appreciated the support, and how amazing people had been. We were all overwhelmed by people’s generosity especially as we are not from here originally,” said Bex
She said her son was always hardworking and even while recovering from operations and chemotherapy he would be working as an estimator in the office at Bloom and Wake in Outwell, where he was training to be an electrician.
He was three months away from completing his apprenticeship when he was diagnosed with the cancer.
“Billy has always worked. When I was chairman of the playgroup and we were struggling to find a cleaner he offered to do the job. He would clean every weekend - even the toilets.
“He went on to be a pot boy at Wisbech St Mary Community Centre and while he was doing his apprenticeship and was at college he cleaned cars for JS Holmes - he was never afraid of hardwork,” said Bex.
Billy’s hobbies included golf, pool, watching football and socialising with his friends and family.
He was very close to his two sisters Renee, 13, and 10-year-old Sydney and Bex said: “Billy has left a really huge hole in their lives. They were very close.”
Spencer said: “Billy was very caring, always thinking of everyone else.”
Bex added: “He was happy socialising with people of all ages. He was just a sensitive soul - a son we were truly proud of.”
Billy had finished his last round of chemo when he was taken ill at home one Friday morning, he spent 10 days in critical care and the family were devastated to be told the cancer was back.
“Everything was going really well, we had had a number of clear scan results. But the cancer was so aggressive there was just no stopping it. He wanted to be at home for his last days, we thought we had a little longer with him, but that was not to be. He fought so hard.”
The memorial service is at 11am, the family ask people to wear black and they do not want floral tributes.
Instead people can, if they desire, give donations to Sarcoma UK. “It’s what Billy had and there is just not enough research done on it,” explained Bex.
The service will include family readings, hymns and music including ‘Fields of Gold’ by Sting.
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