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| Ride out for Suffolk and Essex teen who 'fought rare cancer to the very end' | Ride out for Suffolk and Essex teen who 'fought rare cancer to the very end' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Mason Gentry-Brown was a self-confessed petrolhead who loved motorbikes, cars and mechanics | Mason Gentry-Brown was a self-confessed petrolhead who loved motorbikes, cars and mechanics |
| At just 19, Mason Gentry-Brown had his entire life ahead of him. But last month he died of a rare bone cancer so severe it left him paralysed in his final weeks. | At just 19, Mason Gentry-Brown had his entire life ahead of him. But last month he died of a rare bone cancer so severe it left him paralysed in his final weeks. |
| The self-confessed petrolhead, who loved everything from speedy motorbikes to the roar of a supercar engine, was dealt his devastating diagnosis of Ewing sarcoma in July 2024. | The self-confessed petrolhead, who loved everything from speedy motorbikes to the roar of a supercar engine, was dealt his devastating diagnosis of Ewing sarcoma in July 2024. |
| Over the course of his 13-month fight, Mason, who grew up in Lawford, Essex, but lived in Hadleigh, in Suffolk, endured gruelling treatments and lengthy hospital stays. | Over the course of his 13-month fight, Mason, who grew up in Lawford, Essex, but lived in Hadleigh, in Suffolk, endured gruelling treatments and lengthy hospital stays. |
| On Monday, in keeping with his last wish, a convoy of more than 100 motorbikes and cars will follow his funeral procession on what will be bike-loving Mason's final ride-out. | On Monday, in keeping with his last wish, a convoy of more than 100 motorbikes and cars will follow his funeral procession on what will be bike-loving Mason's final ride-out. |
| "He would have loved it," said his mum, Cheryl Gentry. I think he will hear it and that's what we want, to make a roar that he can hear up there." | |
| Mason’s mum said she was “so proud” of how her son dealt with his cancer | Mason’s mum said she was “so proud” of how her son dealt with his cancer |
| Mason's mum said her son was "polite and had a cheeky grin" | Mason's mum said her son was "polite and had a cheeky grin" |
| Despite knowing his cancer - which initially spread from his arm into his pelvis and lower spine - would eventually consume him, Mason refused to let it stop him. | Despite knowing his cancer - which initially spread from his arm into his pelvis and lower spine - would eventually consume him, Mason refused to let it stop him. |
| His mum said he consistently "showed so much resilience", refused to give up, even though the odds were against him, and "didn't stop fighting until the very end". | His mum said he consistently "showed so much resilience", refused to give up, even though the odds were against him, and "didn't stop fighting until the very end". |
| "He carried on and tried living his life and did everything he wanted to do where he could and where his body allowed," added his mum. | "He carried on and tried living his life and did everything he wanted to do where he could and where his body allowed," added his mum. |
| "He knew that he was going to miss things, and he was annoyed that it had taken so much from him, but he never stopped smiling." | "He knew that he was going to miss things, and he was annoyed that it had taken so much from him, but he never stopped smiling." |
| The 19-year-old died at St Elizabeth Hospice, in Ipswich, on 30 August | The 19-year-old died at St Elizabeth Hospice, in Ipswich, on 30 August |
| Mason with his dad, Steve Brown | Mason with his dad, Steve Brown |
| Mason, whose funeral will take place at Mistley and Manningtree Church, was diagnosed after initially complaining about a dull ache in his arm. | Mason, whose funeral will take place at Mistley and Manningtree Church, was diagnosed after initially complaining about a dull ache in his arm. |
| X-rays and tests revealed a 23cm tumour had grown and spread to other parts of his body. | X-rays and tests revealed a 23cm tumour had grown and spread to other parts of his body. |
| A demanding schedule of biopsies, chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments at a variety of hospitals followed, as doctors tried to suppress the disease. | A demanding schedule of biopsies, chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments at a variety of hospitals followed, as doctors tried to suppress the disease. |
| But just three weeks after finishing his treatment at the end of April, scans revealed his cancer was growing once again. | But just three weeks after finishing his treatment at the end of April, scans revealed his cancer was growing once again. |
| It was shortly after this point that doctors told "polite and cheeky" Mason that they could use chemotherapy to somewhat control the cancer, but not cure it. | |
| "He knew his days were numbered, but he was saying he was fighting for everyone else," said Ms Gentry. | "He knew his days were numbered, but he was saying he was fighting for everyone else," said Ms Gentry. |
| "It wasn't even about him - he was always worried about the impact it would have on everyone else." | "It wasn't even about him - he was always worried about the impact it would have on everyone else." |
| Mason developed a passion for motorbikes at an early age while living in Lawford | Mason developed a passion for motorbikes at an early age while living in Lawford |
| Then, in July this year, 12 months since his first diagnosis, yet another large tumour was discovered on Mason's spine during what became his final trip to hospital. | Then, in July this year, 12 months since his first diagnosis, yet another large tumour was discovered on Mason's spine during what became his final trip to hospital. |
| It left him paralysed from the waist down, which, for Mason, proved to be a clear indicator that the end was near. | It left him paralysed from the waist down, which, for Mason, proved to be a clear indicator that the end was near. |
| "He walked in as an outpatient, and he never walked again, but there was nothing more that they could do," his mum said. | "He walked in as an outpatient, and he never walked again, but there was nothing more that they could do," his mum said. |
| "When they put him on the first chemotherapy management, they said he had a year at best. This time, they said he had weeks. | "When they put him on the first chemotherapy management, they said he had a year at best. This time, they said he had weeks. |
| "But I don't think there was a huge amount of surprise for him because he always had a way of coming back and just smiling, lifting his head up and carrying on." | "But I don't think there was a huge amount of surprise for him because he always had a way of coming back and just smiling, lifting his head up and carrying on." |
| 'He looked at peace' | 'He looked at peace' |
| Mason died on 30 August at St Elizabeth Hospice in Ipswich, with his mum and dad by his side in his final moments. | Mason died on 30 August at St Elizabeth Hospice in Ipswich, with his mum and dad by his side in his final moments. |
| Emotionally, for his parents, it was conflicting. | Emotionally, for his parents, it was conflicting. |
| "I'd been watching him in pain, discomfort and torment, so it was a relief, but I was also angry and sad, I kind of felt everything," said Ms Gentry. | "I'd been watching him in pain, discomfort and torment, so it was a relief, but I was also angry and sad, I kind of felt everything," said Ms Gentry. |
| "The look on his face [after he died] was the first time in months that he looked at peace – there was no pain, no furrowed brow, he just looked asleep. | "The look on his face [after he died] was the first time in months that he looked at peace – there was no pain, no furrowed brow, he just looked asleep. |
| "His dad and I saw him into the world, and we saw him out of it, and I couldn't be more proud of him – he was astonishing to me." | "His dad and I saw him into the world, and we saw him out of it, and I couldn't be more proud of him – he was astonishing to me." |
| The Ride For Mason will start in Bridge Street, in Hadleigh, at 11:30 BST before travelling through Lawford, past Mistley Manor, and then onto Mistley and Manningtree Church for his funeral service. | The Ride For Mason will start in Bridge Street, in Hadleigh, at 11:30 BST before travelling through Lawford, past Mistley Manor, and then onto Mistley and Manningtree Church for his funeral service. |
| Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. | Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. |