The achievements of a terminally-ill teenager in raising more than £1.5 million for charity were today hailed as “incredible” by comedian Jason Manford, who is aiming to help him reach £2 million.
Stephen Sutton was diagnosed with what was initially bowel cancer, when he was 15. Despite surgery, the aggressive cancer spread to different parts of his body and, after further treatment and operations, doctors concluded it is incurable.
Fighting the disease, Mr Sutton decided to set up a bucket-list of 46 things to do before he dies and also launched an inspirational campaign to raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust and give other people the motivation to “enjoy life”.
Manford said he had met the teenager, from Burntwood, Staffordshire, at charity gigs and was inspired to get involved by his positive attitude as he strove to make the best of his situation.
"He's 19, which is no age at all. There's so many things he's not going to be able to do, but there's something he said on his Facebook page and on his website - he said that life shouldn't be measured in time, it should be measured in achievements you've accomplished and I thought 'This guy's 19', and it really got to me."
Mr Sutton set up an initial fundraising target of £10,000 for the Teenage Cancer Trust, but that target was smashed by a huge number of public donations as publicity around his cause spread.
He then aimed to reach a new target of £1 million, which he achieved yesterday.
Manford said the amount raised was "incredible".
"It's really all Stephen," he added. "All I was able to do was sort of amplify it, I guess, and use the magic of social media to make sure that it got out there."
Manford has now called on the public to help Mr Sutton make £2 million for the charity.
