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Hundreds expected for Epworth boy Alexander Strong's funeral | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A town is expected to be brought to a standstill later as hundreds attend the funeral of a boy who died from a rare form of cancer. | |
Alexander Strong, from Epworth, North Lincolnshire, died last month from neuroblastoma, which affects fewer than 100 children in the UK every year. | |
The seven-year-old's school, href="http://epworthprimaryacademy.co.uk/northlincs/primary/epworth" >Epworth Primary Academy, and a number of businesses in the town are closed. | |
The funeral service is being held at Wesley Memorial Methodist Church. | |
Humberside Police said it expected disruption in the area "due to the expected number of attendees and vehicles". | |
A spokesman said: "The police will be in attendance performing traffic control while the service takes place and any disruption will be kept to a minimum." | |
'Dignity and courage' | |
Alexander died in the Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice, near Sheffield. | |
His family said he was courageous and dignified to the end and they were very proud of how he fought his illness for three years. | |
His mother Maxine Strong said his last words to her were "I love you mummy." | His mother Maxine Strong said his last words to her were "I love you mummy." |
"He was just adorable," she said. | "He was just adorable," she said. |
"He was just an amazing young man that never complained. | "He was just an amazing young man that never complained. |
"I'm just very, very proud that he dealt with this disease with such dignity and courage." | "I'm just very, very proud that he dealt with this disease with such dignity and courage." |
His family set up a website charting Alexander's battle against the illness and to raise funds for research into neuroblastoma. | His family set up a website charting Alexander's battle against the illness and to raise funds for research into neuroblastoma. |
Last year he won the first North Lincolnshire Child of the Year award. | Last year he won the first North Lincolnshire Child of the Year award. |
His nine-year-old sister Olivia said: "He was very brave and he was very kind. | His nine-year-old sister Olivia said: "He was very brave and he was very kind. |
"He was a really good brother." | "He was a really good brother." |