Dying Teen Stephen Sutton Close £1m Cancer Charity Target

Over £1 million has been raised for the Teenage Cancer Trust due to the fundraising efforts of 19-year-old Stephen Sutton.

The teenager, from Burntwood, Staffordshire, was diagnosed with bowel cancer at age 15.

Last year Stephen was told his cancer was inoperable, prompting him to write a bucket list of 46 things he wanted to achieve with the £1m wish for the cancer charity among them.

On Monday Stephen updated his Facebook page about his deteriorating condition, saying: "Currently I am in a very vulnerable position and do not know what will happen next. My right lung has collapsed and I am very weak (I'm finding it hard to type this message)

"I will fight as hard as I can, but if the worst happens I just want to say thank you all for sharing the journey with me- it's been wonderful."

Only one day later he posted an update saying he was signing off.

"It's a final thumbs up from me! I've done well to blag things as well as I have up till now, but unfortunately I think this is just one hurdle too far," he wrote.

"It's a shame the end has come so suddenly - there's so many people I haven't got round to properly thank or say goodbye too. Apologies for that.

"That's it from me. But life has been good. Very good.

"Thank you to my mum and the rest of my family for everything.

"Thank you to my friends for being amazing. Thank you to my medical team for the hard work and effort they've continually they've put towards me. And thank you everyone else for sharing this wonderful journey with me. I love you all. x"

With a number of celebrities highlighting Stephen's fundraising efforts, more than £250,000 was pledged on Tuesday with a further £200,000 being donated on Wednesday morning. To date, his Just Giving page total stands at £1,193,496.22.

(CSV/MH)