Celebrating the life of Jamie Inglis (From York Press)

Celebrating the life of Jamie Inglis

9:09am Wednesday 6th February 2013 in Video By Kate Liptrot, kate.liptrot@thepress.co.uk

FINAL plans are being made for Friday’s York Minster service to celebrate the life of a courageous schoolboy who passed away following a battle against cancer.

The public service will celebrate the life of seven-year-old Jamie Inglis who suffered an infection while undergoing treatment for the childhood cancer neuroblastoma.

Thousands of people from York, North Yorkshire and around the world followed Jamie’s brave fight against cancer and helped to fundraise for his specialist treatment in hospital in Germany Jamie’s funeral procession will travel from his school, Lord Deramore’s Primary School in Heslington to the Minster service due to begin at 10am, his parents John and Vicky said.

Mrs Inglis said about the celebration of Jamie’s life: “We have been grieving for a long time, from the day he was diagnosed with cancer, and now I don’t want to grieve in that way.

"I want to be happy for Jamie that he has changed so many people’s lives and that’s why on Friday – of course it will be really emotional, of course it’s going to be sad, it will be really, really awful – but at the same time it will be fantastic and I know Jamie will have the best send-off any parent could wish for.”

The service will include readings by Mrs Inglis, from his godfather and from his head teacher Sheena Powley, as well as featuring some of Jamie and his three-year-old sister Poppy’s favourite songs.

Jamie’s parents have asked for people who want to attend to dress in colourful clothing or with a splash of colour.

Later in the day, children at Lord Deramore’s Primary School will release 300 yellow balloons in memory of their popular school friend.

Mrs Inglis thanked the many well-wishers who have got in touch with the family since Jamie passed away three weeks ago and the many people who helped to fundraise for Jamie’s treatment.

She said about the fundraising and treatment: “I feel so sad it did not work out. The public have contributed to something really special and I hope people will get a good feeling from that.”