A BRAVE schoolboy who ‘loved life’ has lost his fight with an extremely rare form of cancer.

Nine-year-old Saul Chapman passed away on Tuesday, September 16, surrounded by family at his home in Helmshore.

The youngster, of Cherry Tree Way, had an 11-month battle against an aggressive cancer called desmoplastic small-round-cell tumour.

A memorial service for Saul was held at St Mary’s RC Church in Haslingden and was attended by more than 50 teachers and students from his school, St Veronica’s RC Primary.

Saul underwent nine rounds of chemotherapy as part of two different treatment plans and 30 rounds of radiotherapy to combat the disease, but the aggressive nature of the disease meant doctors could only stall the growth of the tumours.

Parents Toby, 45, and Deborah, 45, took the ‘horrific’ decision not to continue Saul’s treatment to preserve some quality of life for their son in the remaining weeks of his life.

Toby thanked the school, medical staff at Manchester Children’s Hospital and Derian House Children’s Hospice, friends and family, for their support since Saul was diagnosed in October last year.

He said: “Saul was a very typical little boy, a very active and happy chap. It sounds like a cliche, but he loved life. You would struggle to find a single photo of him without a smile.

“He showed an unwavering commitment to getting better every single day. He was so brave. He only spent one day of his illness in bed.”

Pam Macro, headteacher at St Veronica’s, said: “Saul was a friendly, lovely little boy. The school was absolutely devastated during the 11-months he battled cancer and when he passed away. Saul and his family have been in our thoughts and prayers throughout.”

Donations can be made to Derian House Children's Hospice and Sarcoma UK.