A teen who donated his life savings and raised over £60,000 for a fellow young cancer sufferer in the same town that he had never met before has died.
Rhys Langford, 19, who had osteosarcoma, read about the story of six-year-old Jacob Jones – both from Ebbw Vale – and donated £1,000 towards the youngster’s treatment for neuroblastoma.
He also set up a crowdfunding page for Jacob, which has raised over £63,000 following an initial total of £20,000, but the teenager died on Tuesday evening, his mother Catherine confirmed on social media.
In the tribute, she wrote: “My warrior, my hero, my son, my baby, has given up his fight. He lay down his sword and died peacefully at home with all his family around him.
“He closed his eyes for the last time at around 7pm yesterday evening 08/02/2022. We are heartbroken. My life will never be the same again. A part of me has died also. He battled a long hard fight.”
Rhys, who was a laborer for a water company, became one of the youngest people to achieve black belt in Krav Maga when he was only 16 and had also scaled Snowdon three times.
He was initially diagnosed with ostersarcoma where experts found an 18cm tumor in his right hip in October 2020.
After 10 weeks of chemotherapy, Rhys needed an operation to remove all bone from his kneecap to his hip in a bid to save his life.
He endured another 20 weeks of intensive chemotherapy last year, but in October 2021 his leg began to swell.
Following a month in hospital for sepsis in the build up to Christmas, experts found another cancerous mass in his thigh.
Despite discussions of a full leg amputation, Rhys was told he could not be saved on January 4.
Jacob’s grandmother, Dawn Jones, said: “We’re deeply sad and upset.
“The love compassion strength and courage Rhys showed was unbelievable and he will never be forgotten.
“Because of his kindness, Jacob will have a better chance of battling with whatever he is faced with now or in the future.
“We will never be able to show how much Rhys and his family mean to us. We’re overwhelmed by the fundraising by Rhys and we are heartbroken. Our thoughts are with his family.”
You can donate to Rhys’ crowdfunding page for Jacob by visiting: https://www.gofundme.com/f/rhyss-dying-wish-to-help-jacob-fight-again
For more stories from where you live, visit InYourArea.