ONE of the final wishes of a teenage cancer patient will be carried out by his family – a fund-raising campaign for the Severn Hospice.

Around six months ago, Joel Lawrence was a Ludlow teenager with everything to live for and plenty to be optimistic about. The 19-year-old, who lived in Sandpits Road, had qualified as a chef and got a job at a town centre restaurant.

The only cloud in the sky was that he had been feeling a bit unwell for several months but nothing too serious, as he and his family thought.

But sadly this was not the case as family friend Gar y Hunt explained: “In November, Joel was diagnosed with stomach cancer, which is extremely rare in someone so young. At first there was hope but Joel had to have his stomach removed and it was discovered that his cancer was both aggressive and had spread to other parts of his body.”

The former Ludlow School student died last month after being cared for at the Severn Hospice in Shrewsbury.

Now Joel’s family, including his mother Zoe and step-father John, will carry out his wish and fund-raise for the hospice.

The campaign kicks off on Sunday, April 25, with a fun football tournament at Ludlow Football Club. It is the idea of Malcolm ‘Mollie’ Morris, owner of the Station Road Garage, who is involved with the football club. The plan is to get as many teams as possible to enter a seven-a-side short match tournament to be played on the club’s artificial pitches.

“Good footballers are welcome but the idea is that this will be a fun day and youngsters, mixed and ladies’ teams are welcome to take part,” said Mr Ward.

Teams will pay a £20 entry fee and it is hoped that at least 20 teams will take part. It is intended the tournament will be just part of on-going fund-raising.

“In many ways Joel’s story is a tragic one but the hope of his family and friends is that some good can come from what has happened and other people can benefit in the future,” Mr Ward said.