A legacy of courage

But the courageous lad's legacy is living on through the remarkable work being done by his family to raise funds for sick children at the Royal Belfast Hospital.

Last month Trevor's family and close friends - including extended family and friends in Bready - raised a staggering 4,000, with money still coming in, through small events and collections in the area. The generous donations from the community and businesses came from throughout the North West including Limavady, Dungiven and Newbuildings, and mean that hundreds of children suffering from cancer and using the hospital's Haematology Ward, will benefit greatly from the extra funds.

Aged just 6 years and 5 months, the much-loved and loving son of Isobel and Samuel, loving brother of Philip, Adam and Jack, died peacefully on February 13 last year, in the loving care of his family.

Service

Trevor, who lived at Gelvin Road, Dungiven, was laid to rest on Sunday February 15 after a Service in Dungiven Presbyterian Church.

Trevor's grandmother Ray Service, who lives in Limavady, is heavily involved in the fundraising efforts, and says she hopes the money will greatly improve the lives of those families and children who went through the same experience. The grieving grandmother also tells just how special six year-old Trevor was throughout his 18 month battle with the disease.

Ray says: "He was just a courageous, brave, special little boy. Until he lost his hair no one would have ever knew he was sick.

"He was very strong and always, always smiling. Every time the nurses visited Trevor in the ward, helped him with his treatment and medication, he never failed in saying to each of them 'thank you for helping me'."

It was in 2007 when Trevor was just four years old that doctors discovered a cancerous tumour. The little lad was referred to the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children where he underwent an operation, 31 courses of radiotherapy and bouts of chemotherapy, but sadly passed away on February 13, 2009.

Ray continues: "Throughout his illness the support from the community was unbelievable. Over 2,000 was raised in lieu of flowers at Trevor's funeral, which also went to the Haematology Ward. After Trevor passed away the family wanted to in some way carry that fundraising on. My niece Flora Campbell and Cheryl Snodgrass decided that they wanted to hold something in memory of him and a coffee morning plus a dance was held. There were also door to door collections in which the community gave very generously. Businesses in Limavady, Dungiven and Newbuildings also donated to our prizes for the raffle held at Bready Cricket Club at the start of March."

Ray adds: "There is money still coming in but at the moment we are looking at around 4,000 to hand over to the hospital, which is unbelievable. Trevor's parents, Isobel and Samuel, would like to thank each and everyone of the people that donated so kindly and how much it is appreciated. We also would like to thank the fantastic work that each and everyone of the staff at the Royal Belfast Hospital did. They all deserve praise for the way in which they helped Trevor."

Such was the scale of the generosity of the people, Ray says that Trevor's mum Isobel received a total of 1000 in just two nights of collecting.

Ray continues: "We hope that next year we will hold another event in memory of Trevor to again raise cash for the hospital and sick children. It has just been over a year from when Trevor passed away but the support that neighbours, friends and the entire community are still extending to our family is out of this world."

Ray concluded: "We hope that through Trevor's memory we will be able to help in some way, the many children that are suffering from cancer."

Flora Campbell and Cheryl Snodgrass, who organised the event at Bready Cricket Club have asked the Sentinel to pass on their thanks to everyone who helped in any way, including the cricket club, and the band Hit Men who provided entertainment free of charge, Phelim Curran's bakery and William Scanlon, who had his head shaved to raise funds.