We are deeply saddened to hear that our young supporter, Oscar Fairs, has passed away aged 15.
Oscar, a talented goalkeeper for West Ham United’s under-14’s, was diagnosed with an ependymoma in August 2023.
For eight months beforehand, the “friendly and happy” teenager, from Benfleet, Essex, had experienced heart palpitations, right-sided weakness, headaches and sickness but was initially misdiagnosed with mental health problems and migraines.
Despite all his challenges, Oscar and mum Natalie took part in our Wear a Hat Day fundraising event last March.
Following multiple surgeries, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, Oscar’s family were told his brain cancer had become resistant to radiotherapy and palliative care was his only option.
With the help of loved ones, they raised more than £100,000 to take Oscar to France for a treatment trial but, sadly, the schoolboy continued to deteriorate and he passed away on Friday 13th December.
Tributes have been paid by many, including West Ham’s Sporting Director, Mark Noble, who said: “I have wonderful memories of Oscar playing in my garden. He was a friendly, happy, well-mannered and polite young man, who had such a bright future ahead of him, and it is just so unimaginably devastating that he has been taken away from his family and friends at this age.”
Our thoughts are with Oscar’s family and all who knew him. He will remain in our hearts as we continue our fight to find a cure for this devastating disease.
If you would like to donate in memory of Oscar, please click here and share your reason as “Oscar Fairs”.
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Published Monday 16th December 2024.