The community of Tenby was saddened to hear of the death this week of a plucky teenager who fought against cancer three times. Thirteen-year-old Daniel Burrows touched the hearts of many for the courageous way in which he bore his illness. Daniel, of 13 Knowling Mead, was just 18 months old when his parents, Cheryl and Danny, discovered a lump on his shoulder. At first it was thought to be a cyst, but following months of investigation and finally an operation to remove it, it was discovered to be Rhabdomya sarcoma, a rare malignant tumour. Following chemotherapy, Daniel was given the all clear 11 years ago. However, in February 2002, Daniel started having mobility problems and severe pain on his left side. Following investigations at Withybush Hospital, Haverfordwest, and the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, Birmingham, it was discovered that Daniel had another form of tumour, an Osteosarcoma, on his pelvic bone. "Both types of cancer are rare and for one person to have both is very, very rare," explained Daniel's mother Cheryl, in July 2002, when the Observer helped launch an appeal to raise money to send Daniel on the holiday of a lifetime to Give Kids a World in Florida. The local community was so touched by the plight of Daniel, then a pupil at Tenby Junior School, that money flooded in to the Trust Fund. The second discovery meant more intensive, high rise chemotherapy for the plucky youngster, which was followed by major surgery in Birmingham and a six-week course of radiotherapy. "Daniel has been and still is a fighter, a really remarkable young man who believes life is important and he is trying his best to live his life to the fullest. We, his entire family, are very proud of him," said Cheryl, when she paid tribute to Daniel's fight in the Observer in April 2003. And a month later, Daniel received a 'Pembrokeshire Star Award' for children of courage after being nominated for his bravery by his grandmother. A pupil at Greenhill School, Daniel was re-diagnosed with cancer in June of this year, but sadly this time the battle proved too great for him and he passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday night. "He is now free from suffering and he passed away peacefully with all his family around him," Cheryl told the Observer this week. "Daniel was such a popular little boy," she continued. "He was a fighter and fought the big fight for the third time and amazed the doctors and nurses with his bravery. "He was a very special boy in more ways than one. He was very special to us and to his friends. He never had an enemy, everybody loved him and he gave love to others. "We have lots of happy memories and he will always be in our hearts. We will miss him terribly. "We hope that Daniel's funeral will be a celebration of his life and with this in mind, we would like, if possible, for people to dress informally and not wear black." Said his headmaster, Mr. Chris Noble: "He was always the most positive of young men and despite the considerable difficulties he faced at school, he was determined to do things. "As far as I could see, he never let his illness get him down. He always had plans for the future and knew the things he wanted to do. "Although because of his illness his attendance at school was not that good, he always made a major contribution when he was there. "He will be greatly missed and we will always remember him for the contribution he made." As well his parents, Daniel leaves to mourn his 10-year-old sister Ayisha, grandparents Millie and Doug, of Tenby, and Rose, of Bermuda, aunts and uncles Julie, Helene, Alison, Lafay, Lejay, Stephen, Martin and Vaughan, great-grandmother Marjorie Phillips and numerous cousins. His funeral will take place on Monday, when a service at St. Mary's Church, Tenby, at 11.45 am, will be followed by cremation at Parc Gwyn Crematorium, Narberth, at 1 pm. There will be family flowers only, with donations in lieu to LATCH or Tenby Health Centre, c/o the funeral directors, Messrs. W. and M. J. Rossiter and Sons Ltd., The Old Rectory, The Norton, Tenby.
