A family has raised more than £5,000 for a blood cancer charity in memory of a 27-year-old who stayed "brave and strong" right until the end of his life.

Former Mid-Kent College student Josh Stock, from Maidstone, died in November last year after being diagnosed with leukaemia in August 2019.

Mr Stock, whose first son was born less than a year before his death, was told there was nothing more doctors could do after a stem cell transplant failed.

Now, his family are raising awareness and funds for the charity Anthony Nolan, which recruits potential stem cell donors and funds research into blood cancer and blood disorders.

They were shocked to discover that the global register for stem cell donors only listed two potential donors for Mr Stock and neither were a 100% match.

In the final few weeks of his life, Mr Stock returned to his family home in Tovil Green.

Marc Lemezma, Mr stock's dad, said: "He was so bloody brave and strong. He said 'I just want to be able to help other people, I want other people to have a proper chance of survival'."

"Although the treatment wasn't successful, his last wish was to help find ways to encourage more potential donors. Josh just wanted to help others in the same situation find some hope."

A Valley Park School student, Mr Stock went on to study catering at Mid-Kent College and worked as a chef in Maidstone pubs.

Mr Lemezma described his son as: "Cheeky, funny and caring. He was loved by everybody and was always willing to help."

Two or three months before his diagnosis, Josh started feeling tired and achey and his piercings were becoming infected.

Then, he developed a cold and chest infection and after speaking to his parents who were away at the time, he went to the doctor, who quickly sent him to Maidstone Hospital for blood tests.

"The doctor told him had he not sought medical help that day he probably wouldn't have made it over the weekend," Mr Lemezma, an entertainer, said.

After gruelling chemotherapy sessions, in April last year Josh was told he was in remission, causing the family to celebrate.

However, it was not to last. Within two weeks Josh started feeling ill and he was told again that he had cancer.

This time, because of Covid restrictions, the family weren't able to visit Josh at King's College Hospital, where he was being treated, and so were told over the phone that the stem cell transplant had not worked.

"There was nothing now to be done, he only had a few weeks to live, so we made the decision he could come home."

"We lost a son and that hurts every day and continues to hurt," Mr Lemezma said.

The family have taken comfort in the amount raised for Anthony Nolan since Josh' death and have been "astonished by the incredible generosity" shown.

Henny Braund, chief executive of the charity, said: "We are extremely grateful to Josh's family for fundraising over £5,000 for Anthony Nolan, as well as using their voices to raise awareness during this incredibly difficult time.

"It costs £40 to add each new donor to the Anthony Nolan register, so the funds raised in Josh's memory will enable us to recruit more potential stem cell donors, any one of whom could give a second chance of life to someone with blood cancer."

To donate, click here.

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