A POPULAR, courageous and ‘amazing young man’ who died at the tender age of 22 following a brain tumour has inspired friends and family to take part in a charity run to help in the battle against teenage cancer.

Jack Sanders died peacefully at home in Worcester on March 23 this year, surrounded by family and friends, after battling medulloblastoma (a brain tumour).

His mother and father also died of cancer but Jack of Monarch Drive, St John's, Worcester, was not one for complaining and always tried to make the most of his life.

He was diagnosed with the disease three years, ago received excellent treatment at the young person’s unit at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham where staff earned the gratitude, affection and respect of his family.

Friends and family taking part in the Wolf Run in Leicestershire have called themselves “Jack’s Odd Socks”, an affectionate reference to Jack’s habit of always wearing mismatched socks.

The group of 13 chave already raised more than £4,500 for the Teenage Cancer Trust ahead of the run on June 13 and hope Worcester News readers can help them raise even more.

The team is made up of Danni Francis, Lauren MacKinnon, Matt Staff-Brett, Max Studer, Thomas Goodwin, Matt Murphy, Matt Milwain, Bradley Heason, Olly Swift, Ed Tong, Jock MacKinnon, Niall Hatton and Ryan Hatton.

Mr Sanders attended St Clement’s Primary School in St John’s and later attended Whitbourne Primary School and the Chantry School in Martley.

His cousin Jo Adams of Ottawa Close, Lower Wick, Worcester, said Mr Sanders had lived with her for two and a half years after his diagnosis but was also cared for by his brother Ben and sister Amy.

Mrs Adams, a nurse, said: “He was a genuinely nice lad but not your typical lad. He had very strong family ties. He had been through an awful experience. His mother died ten years ago and his father five years ago.

“Manners were really important to Jack. Even his mannerisms were like his dad’s. He was very much like Dave (his dad). He was very popular.

“He was a massive Manchester United fan. He had organised to try and go to the hotel that Ryan Giggs owns and to go to the stadium to watch players train and have lunch with them afterwards but he passed away before he could do that.”

Within days the club had sent the family a Manchester United shirt signed by Wayne Rooney complete with a certificate of authenticity.

The shirt will now form one of the prizes at a fundraising raffle and auction in Jack’s honour at the Pavilion in Tybridge Street, Worcester between 7pm and 1am on August 28.

Prizes include gym membership, tanning sessions, beauty vouchers, Worcester Warriors tickets and vouchers for Worcester Racecourse.

His oncologist Dr David Spooner at the QE wrote to Jack’s sister Amy of his ‘immense sadness’ at Jack’s death and said he was 'more than a patient', becoming a close friend.

He wrote in a letter to Jack's sister, Amy: “Jack will always be an amazing young man. His courage and determination know no bounds; and all of his wonderful personal characteristics were the more able to be expressed because of your unswerving and devoted loving care and attention for him as a wider family and friendship circle.

“All of us here not only respected but loved Jack and join me in sending our deepest sympathy to you all.”

Danni Francis, a former girlfriend who remained close friends with Jack, said: “Jack was a courageous, inspirational and extremely brave young man, he went through a lot in his life, yet did not once ask “why me?” or complain, I am so proud have known him and to have been able to call him my best friend.”

To sponsor Jack visit www.justgiving.com/teams/jacksoddsocks/