‘Forever in our hearts’: Football club remembers Crawley teenager Leo Firth
Crawley teenager Leo Firth has died after a 'long and courageous battle with cancer'.
Gatwick Warriors FC announced his death in a heartfelt tribute, describing him as the 'kindest soul, with the warmest heart'.
Leo, 19, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia when he was 16.
His family had been searching for specialist treatments or clinical trials after being told there were no further treatment options available to him at the Royal Marsden.
Paying tribute on Facebook, Gatwick Warriors FC said: “Our Warrior has flown up high after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
“Leo is the true definition of a warrior and he will be sorely missed by his family, his friends, his teammates and everyone here at the club."
In a memorial message accompanying the post, the club said: “It is with great sadness, that we have to share our Warrior flew up high after battling for many years. The kindest soul, with the warmest heart.
“Leo will be truly missed by us all at the club. Please join us in offering our condolences and support to his family and friends at this difficult time. Forever in our hearts.”
Leo’s mum, Ashleigh Francis, said chemotherapy had initially put his cancer into remission for 18 months.
After the disease returned, he underwent further chemotherapy, radiotherapy and a cord blood stem cell transplant. His mum said the leukaemia returned again seven months after the transplant, and two rounds of the Apollo clinical trial had failed to work.
His sister, Ellie Firth, set up a fundraiser to help the family explore potential treatments and specialist advice, as well as fulfil Leo’s wishes and create memories together.
Gatwick Warriors ended its tribute with the words: “We love you, we miss you and whenever we kick a ball we’ll be doing it in your honour."