Brave connah loses cancer battle
TRIBUTES to a teenager who died just days after making an emotional appeal to fund his cancer treatment have been pouring in.
Connah Haslam, 19, from Unsworth, Bury had been battling bone cancer for five years, and on Friday he made a poignant video asking for donations so he could undergo treatment in Germany.
The appeal raised more than £90,000 in less than 24 hours, and Connah and his family made the journey to the Hallwang Clinic – but yesterday morning Connah died.
His mum, Kelly, posted a message on his Facebook page saying their ‘hearts are broken into a million pieces’. Hundreds of people have taken to social media to pay tribute to the teenager.
Ragen Ellaway said: “God bless you Kelly you did everything possible to save him. We’ve all been rooting for you. Absolutely devastated for you.”
Siobhan Freer described the news as ‘absolutely heartbreaking’. “So so sad, poor Connah. Thoughts are with his dear family left behind to deal with the heartache of the loss of their beloved son, only consolation is he is now free from pain but would never stop the heartache,” she said.
Many of those paying tribute had made a donation to the appeal, which had reached over £160,000.
Louise Smith said: “Heartbroken for the family after reading this. I’m so glad I donated for this amazing boy’s treatment, just so sorry he never made it there. RIP.”
In her Facebook message, Kelly thanked people for donating to the fundraising page. She said: “Our hearts are broken into a million pieces as I write to tell you that Connah could fight no longer and he passed away early this morning.
“The infections became too much for him to fight all in one go and his body couldn’t cope.
“We are completely heartbroken and cannot begin to imagine him not being there – it has always been us 4! He fought to the very end and me and his dad held him tight as he took his last breath. It was peaceful at the end and we are spending time with him before we have him transported home. If Connah was here he would be thanking everyone individually for your help. We have been stunned by the support.”