The funeral is due to take place on Monday of a 16-year-old boy from Newry, who died following a two-year battle with leukaemia.
Daniel Greer was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2022 and his family subsequently set up the ‘Do It For Daniel’ campaign to help find a life-saving bone marrow donor and spread awareness.
After a long battle with the disease, Daniel passed away in the early hours of Friday morning.
“We are devastated to have to tell you that our beautiful boy Daniel passed away at home in the early hours of this morning, surrounded by his family,” his family said in a statement on Facebook.
“Our little warrior fought so hard to live, having battled leukaemia for more than two years.
“We are so grateful for all the support of everyone who helped to try to save him - from his amazing medical teams, his wonderful, caring nurses, all the charities that stepped in to support his family during his long illness and, of course, to the thousands of people who signed up as bone marrow/stem cell donors in response to our desperate pleas for help,” they added.
“It is so hard to accept that he was taken from us at the age of just 16. But we know Daniel is up there at the gates, probably giving cheek to St. Peter already! Love you to the moon and back.”
Daniel had undergone extensive treatment including three stem-cell transplants, chemotherapy and emergency surgeries over the course of the past two years.
In May, his family posted a video of Daniel ringing the bell at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, in what they hoped would mark the end of his cancer treatment.
However, when the family returned home to Newry, they were “devastated” to find out that the cancer had returned.
Thousands have paid tribute to the teenager online, sharing their condolences with the family.
Among those paying tribute included blood cancer charity DKMS UK, which originally saw more than 8,000 people sign up to be potential donors as a result of the family’s campaign.
“We are deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Daniel,” they said.
“Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences go out to your family and everyone who knew and loved him during this incredibly difficult time.”
Requiem Mass for Daniel will take place on Monday at noon at the Church of the Sacred Heart, Cloughoge.
