ALWAYS happy, always smiling and always up to mischief.

This is a family’s heartbreaking tribute to their brave little boy who lost his battle with cancer.

Beautiful baby Joshua Lancaster was diagnosed with Hepatocellular Carcinoma — a rare form of liver cancer — last year.

In October, aged just three years old, Joshua was the first person in the world for whom the disease was known to have spread to both kidneys.

His battle did not last long. Four weeks later, on November 18, the special brother-to-two died in his parents’ arms as they sang lullabies and told him they loved him.

Parents of the Bolton-born toddler, Samantha and Kristian Lancaster have now set up a charity in Joshua’s name —The Joshua Lancaster Foundation, with the slogan #goredforjosh.

Mum Samantha Lancaster said: “On the morning of November 18, Joshua gained his angel wings leaving behind a hole in our hearts that will never be filled.

“He was very special, everyone who had the pleasure of spending time with our boy was touched by his unique outlook on the world.

“Our battle didn’t last long. The disease was too aggressive and spread too fast to even give us a chance.

“We are absolutely heartbroken, we have no answers to our questions, and we will probably never get any answers. All we know is some good has to come out of this horrible outcome.”

Samantha and Kristian, who now live in Ellenbrook, hope The Joshua Lancaster Foundation will help patients with cancer and terminal illness and their families. Initially, funds are being used to help patients at the Panda Unit at Salford Royal Hospital, Ward 84 at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital and St Francis House Hospice, where Joshua received care and treatment, to ‘create magical moments’ for them and to offer emotional and financial support for their families.

These efforts ‘to honour Joshua’ fulfil the Foundation’s mission statement.

The couple said: “People have asked what they can do for us and this is it. We want to raise as much money as we can to help kids and families with this horrible disease. Please donate, hold fundraisers, share our Just Giving page and make it go viral on social media.

“Thank you from daddy, mummy, little sister and big brother.”

Hundreds of residents have shared condolences and more than £14,600 has been donated.

To support the Foundation visit www.gofundme.com/ask56-the-joshua-lancaster-foundation.