IN LIFE we have always needed people willing to go the extra mile, to wonder what is over the horizon and, most importantly, to make a difference.
Had we not had people like that, humans would still be stuck in caves - Stephen Sutton was one who made a difference.
At 19 and having being diagnosed with terminal cancer, it would have been very easy for him to lash out at the unfairness of such a horrid illness, go 'off the rails' and spend his final weeks and months fighting the injustice of it all.
I dare say there was probably anger within him that his journey in life would not reach many more stations on the route, it would be natural.
But Stephen chose to fight in one of the most unique, beautiful and memorable ways I can think of, he chose to raise cash for the Teenage Cancer Trust to help teens long after he had passed on.
It was an ambitious target of £1million.......no-one got the memo saying ambitious though and his fight and spirit and overall outlook saw Stephen raise in excess of £3MILLION!
Throughout he was both funny, engaging and at times brutally honest about cancer, all of which made people like me want to hear more.
I hope Stephen's efforts will of course lead us closer to ridding the world of this brutal illness or at least slow it down to keep loved ones with us much longer
But Stephen should be a role model for younger people, make a difference and life your lives to the fullest.
Too often young people are demonised by society when in truth there are many who are making a difference from a young age.
To Stephen's parents, family and friends I send my heartfelt condolences. I hope in time once this pain has lessened, the memories of a fantastic person will sustain you in your darkest memories.
RIP Stephen, you may only have been here for a relatively short time but the world was a better place for you being in it
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