A COUPLE are set to remember their son in what would have been his 21st year by holding a series of events.

Alex Charnely was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins Lymphoma and treated at the oncology unit at the Manchester Children’s Hospital.

He was only nine when he succumbed to the disease.

Mum Karen Smith said: “He would have been 21 on 2 August. He was nine when he died but this is the first year that I have felt like I could have done something.

“It has been very raw. Anyone who has lost a child would agree.

“It has been nice to talk about him, but it has opened up a lot of emotions. I have never spoke much about his death.

“While we have been arranging these events, people have been talking about Alex and their memories of him. It has opened up a few emotions for everybody.

“His birthday celebrations will be bittersweet. It will be a sad occasion that he is not there with us, but we are doing something to mark the occasion and raising money and awareness of children’s illness as well.

Karen, 54, of York Crescent, Ramsgreave, said: “Time was just passing by. One of his friends that lives nearby came to say he was having a 21st party and that prompted me to want to do something for Alex.

“Perhaps this is the final year we’ll be able to do something big. A 21st is a big milestone for any young person.

“I mentioned having some sort of celebration for Alex to some of his friends and they thought it was a great idea. They were so enthusiastic.”

Family and friends held a meeting in January and it has snowballed from there.

A Facebook account was set up for Alex and people have organised different events.

The first, a sponsored walk today (sat) from the Knowles Arms to Whalley, will have around 100 people taking part from 1pm.

A football match will then take place at Old Blacks at 3pm on Saturday June 3, organised by his former coach at Lammack juniors, a race night at the Rugby Club at 7.30pm on Saturday 22 June, a bike ride from Blackpool to Blackburn in September, and a 21st party at the BAE Canberra Club on Saturday 19 October.

For more information search for ‘Just for Alex’ on Facebook.