A BRAVE York teenager who battled cancer as a baby, only to be hit by the disease again as a young man, has died.

Lewis Thornton, 19, had brain cancer and died early on Tuesday morning after suffering from secondary pneumonia since December.

His funeral was being held today at St Edward the Confessor Church in Tadcaster Road at 12.30pm.

Friends and family have paid tribute to the brave young man they knew and loved.

His mother Rebecca Thompson said she and Lewis’s three young brothers are all devastated by their loss.

“Lewis will be remembered for always being happy and always having a smile on his face. He was very brave and courageous throughout the whole battle, and always really happy and smiling.

“He will be sadly missed by his family and close friends, and everyone who knew him.”

He died at The Lodge residential home in Hemingbrough with his mother and loved ones at his side.

Lewis won a fight with cancer as a baby when he was first diagnosed at 16 months old, only to be told the devastating news the disease had returned when he was 16.

Family, friends and neighbours threw themselves into fundraising campaigns to help to create accessible living spaces for Lewis at Rebecca’s home.

A fundraising event was held at the Post Office Club in Marygate in November 2012, while colourful wrist bands were sold and one of Lewis’s school friends shaved off his long hair, all to raise funds for the adaptations.

Dozens of messages have been left on the Lewis Thornton Appeal Facebook page, paying tribute to Lewis as an amazing, inspirational young man who it was an honour to have known.