A "POSITIVE and caring" father and devoted friend has died, aged 23, after a three-year battle with leukaemia.
James Burrows, from Blackburn, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in 2019, and after fighting the disease for three years he sadly lost his battle with the illness on Saturday, June 4.
A Blackburn Rover’s fan and father of Leon, aged six, he spent his last few weeks at home with his mother Lynne Burrows, sisters Amanda Catterall and Debbie Catterall, other family members, and his dog Ada by his side.
His sister, Amanda Catterall, has paid tribute to her positive and happy-go-lucky brother.
She said: “He was always very positive. He was there for his friends, he had nine really close friends and he called them his 'bros'.
“He just lived his life how we wanted to live it. He was very happy-go-lucky, he had no regrets and did what he wanted to do.
“He was very caring and very well thought of. He really will be missed by so many people.”
After James’s diagnosis in 2019, he was transferred to the Christie Hospital in Manchester for his care, with Amanda saying all the staff were fantastic throughout his treatment.
After several months of treatment, he started to get better, however, around Christmas 2021, he started to feel ill again, experiencing bone pain so went back to the hospital.
After tests, James was told that his cancer had progressed, and after several weeks of treatment, doctors confirmed his condition was too developed for any more intervention.
He was able to spend his last few weeks at home surrounded by his family.
Since his death, the family have set up a GoFundMe page to try and raise money for a memorial bench, where people can sit to reflect and remember James.
His closest friends are looking into holding sponsored events and have had t-shirts made, which they will be wearing for his funeral, to raise money for the bench.
James’s funeral will be held on Wednesday, June 15, with people asked to dress 'casual and colourful'. Family flowers only, with people asked to instead donate to the GoFundMe page.
The procession will start from his home on Plantation Road before stopping at the Beehive, one of his favourite pubs, where his friends will join the procession to Pleasington Cemetery.
People will then be invited to St Mark's Conservative Club in Preston Old Road to raise a glass or two in James’s memory.
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