A mother and father say they will continue to celebrate their "larger than life" son after his death from a rare cancer.

Ten-year-old Patrick Lownds, who was keen on sports and a music lover, was described as a “real character”  who was “determined not to let the cancer define him”.

Patrick, from Worthing, died in April 2022 but his family say he remains the "centre of their world" as they continue to fundraise in his name.

Dad Ryan said: “Patrick was a child who threw himself into everything. He was a real character – very talkative and he didn’t miss a trick, but he was also kind and sensitive.

“Patrick was larger than life. He loved sports, he liked to laugh, loved music and dancing.

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“There wasn’t a day he wasn’t busy. He was a member of Worthing Town football team and sea swimming was one of his favourite things to do. He was also a Beaver, he practised kung fu and he played basketball.”

Mum Sarah said: “He was – and still is – the centre of our world. For us, everything revolves around Patrick.”

Ryan and Sarah said they began running as a “coping mechanism” after their son died from malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour, an extremely rare form of cancer with only 50 paediatric cases across Europe in the last decade.

After first running the London Marathon, Ryan took on the Littlehampton 10k and was joined by Patrick’s team mates from Worthing Town.

Patrick is remembered at the club through an annual goalkeeper award bearing his name.

“Team Patrick” is currently raising money for children’s hospice charity Chestnut Tree House in  Angmering which supported the family after Patrick died.

Friends of the family are planning on completing the “Jingle Bell Drop”, a Christmas abseiling event down the Brighton i360.