Stephen Sutton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Stephen Sutton
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Sutton in 2014
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Stephen Robert Sutton
16 December 1994 Burntwood, England
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| Died | 14 May 2014 (aged 19) Birmingham, England
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| Occupation | Blogger, charity activist |
Stephen Robert Sutton (born December 16, 1994 – died May 14, 2014) was an inspiring young man from England. He became famous for his blog, Stephen's Story. He also worked hard to raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust. This charity helps teenagers who have cancer.
Stephen was very good at school. But in 2012, he found out his cancer could not be cured. He then decided not to go to university. His family had a special health condition called Lynch syndrome. This condition made them more likely to get a certain type of cancer. Doctors at first did not think Stephen could have this cancer because he was so young.
Stephen made a "bucket list" of things he wanted to do. He wanted to do these things in his last months. He achieved many of them, like becoming a Guinness World Records holder. He started raising money for the Teenage Cancer Trust. Many famous people and politicians supported him. By the second year after he passed away, over £5.5 million had been raised in his memory.
Stephen passed away on May 14, 2014, when he was 19 years old. More than 10,000 people went to his memorial service. It was held at Lichfield Cathedral. After his death, he received special awards. These included an MBE and an honorary degree from Coventry University.
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Stephen's Early Life
Stephen Robert Sutton was born on December 16, 1994. He grew up in Burntwood, England. He went to Highfields Primary School and Chase Terrace Technology College. Stephen was a very active child. He loved sports, especially long-distance running and football. He even had a tryout with Walsall FC. He also set a school record in the 400-meter race for kids under 15.
In August 2012, Stephen got top grades from his college. He had interviews to study medicine at important universities. These included Cambridge University, Leicester, and Leeds. But he later decided not to go to university. This was because doctors found out his cancer could not be cured.
Family Health and Diagnosis
Stephen had a health condition called Lynch syndrome. His father, Andy, also had this condition. It meant they were more likely to get colorectal cancer. Stephen's father had cancer surgery in 1989. Twenty years later, he had another tumor removed. He got better just months before Stephen was first diagnosed.
When Stephen first felt sick, doctors thought he just had a common stomach problem. They gave him simple medicine. His father told them about the family's cancer risk. But doctors kept saying teenagers were too young for this illness. Stephen later said he felt a bit "angry" about how long it took to find out he had cancer. But he chose not to focus on that feeling.
Stephen's Illness and Activism
Stephen was diagnosed with stage 3B colorectal cancer at age 15. He had strong treatments like radiation and chemotherapy. He was told he was cancer-free for a while. But then a tumor came back behind his knee. He had more chemotherapy for this. Doctors thought about removing his left leg. But the cancer had already spread to other parts of his lower body.
In December 2012, two years after his first diagnosis, the cancer was found to be incurable. It had spread to his lungs and liver. Stephen chose not to ask how long he had to live. Instead, he wanted to measure his life by the good he could do. In January 2014, he gave a speech. He said his first diagnosis was "a good thing." It taught him to value life and gave him motivation.
Fundraising for a Cause
After his diagnosis, Stephen started helping the Teenage Cancer Trust. He later launched his own website and blog in January 2013. At the same time, he began raising money for the trust. His first goal was to raise £10,000. People gave more money than he expected. So, he raised his goal to £100,000, then £500,000. By March 2014, his goal was £1,000,000. By the end of May 2014, he had raised over £4,000,000.
Many famous people supported Stephen's fundraising. These included comedians Jimmy Carr, Jonathan Ross, and Jason Manford. Jason Manford gave £10,000. He also gave all the money from his comedy clubs for a whole month to the charity. When Stephen was in the hospital in April 2014, Jason Manford helped share Stephen's message. He started the "#thumbsupforStephen" campaign. People shared selfies to support the cause.
Stephen reached his £1,000,000 goal on April 23, 2014. On May 2, he left the hospital because he felt better. That same day, he met the Prime Minister, David Cameron. The Prime Minister also supported Stephen's campaign. On May 4, Stephen helped break a Guinness World Record. 554 people made heart-shaped hand gestures at his old school.
By September 2014, a lot of the money raised was used to help young people with cancer. £2.9 million went to special cancer units in seven British hospitals. £1.2 million helped fund 50 care scholarships at Coventry University. £700,000 was used to share information about cancer and help patients attend a charity conference. By May 14, 2016, two years after Stephen's death, £5.5 million had been raised.
Achieving Goals
Stephen had a "bucket list" of things he wanted to do. Skydiving and getting into the Guinness Book of Records were two of them. He achieved both before he passed away. On July 10, 2015, at Hibaldstow Airfield, 402 people did 403 tandem skydives in 24 hours. They did this for the Teenage Cancer Trust to honor Stephen. This broke the old record of 286 jumps. Stephen's mother became an ambassador for the trust. She ran a marathon and planned to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in his memory.
Documentary About Stephen
In April 2013, Stephen met a filmmaker named Grigorij Richters. This happened while Stephen was practicing to be a drummer for the opening of the 2013 UEFA Champions League final. They quickly became friends. Richters and his team started filming Stephen for several months. They filmed him at home with his family and at fundraising events. In the summer of 2013, Stephen went on a trip to Ibiza. This was his last trip. Richters gave him several GoPro cameras to record his journey.
A full-length movie about Stephen is still being made. Richters said that two days before Stephen passed away, they talked about his legacy. Stephen wanted people to remember him as a positive person, not just someone with cancer. Besides the documentary, Richters and his team also helped manage Stephen's Facebook page and other media.
Stephen's Passing and Public Response
Stephen's lung collapsed on April 22, 2014. He was put on life support, but his condition was stable. He passed away peacefully in his sleep on May 14, 2014. He was at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham in Birmingham. He was 19 years old. His mother shared the sad news on his Facebook page.
By the time he passed away, Stephen had raised over £3.2 million for the Teenage Cancer Trust. The Prime Minister, David Cameron, praised Stephen's "spirit and bravery." Opposition Leader Ed Miliband said Stephen was an "inspiration."
On May 21, Lichfield Cathedral announced a public vigil for Stephen. It was held on May 29. A private family funeral followed the next day. Stephen wanted people to wear bright colors and have fun at his vigil. Yellow, the color of summer, was suggested. About 11,000 people attended the vigil. The Dean of the Cathedral said the public sadness was similar to when Princess Diana passed away. Stephen was buried the day after the vigil.
Awards and Honors for Stephen
Stephen was given a special award called Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). This award was for his great work with the Teenage Cancer Trust. The award was dated May 14, the day he passed away. His mother, Jane, said Stephen didn't do charity work for awards. But even he thought getting an MBE was "awesome." Jane received the MBE from Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace in November 2014.
On October 7, 2014, Stephen was honored at the Pride of Britain Awards. He received the "Special Recognition" award. Jason Manford and Roger Daltrey presented it to his family.
On November 11, 2014, Coventry University announced another honor for Stephen. They gave him an Honorary Doctorate of Science. This was to recognize his amazing work. He helped show the special needs of teenagers and young adults with cancer. His mother accepted this award for him later that month.
The Christmas tree in Burntwood for 2014 was dedicated to Stephen. It was decorated with yellow ribbons. In September 2015, Virgin Trains named a train after him. In June 2014, an elephant at the West Midland Safari Park was named Sutton. People voted for the name. Stephen had met the elephant's mother earlier. He had wished to hug an animal bigger than himself.
Music in Stephen's Memory
The band The Neon Brotherhood recorded a song called "Hope Ain't a Bad Thing". They released it to raise money for Teenage Cancer Trust in Stephen's memory. Stephen's mother, Jane, announced the song's release on June 2. Within 24 hours, it reached No. 2 on the UK iTunes Charts. It reached No. 16 on the Official UK charts.
A local group called Gig Caritas worked with Stephen. They announced a concert in his memory in Dudley. Stars from West End shows performed. These included Kieran Brown, Sabrina Aloueche, and Katie Bernstein. They were joined by an orchestra and choir.
Since 2014, the Download Festival has honored Stephen. Its main stage is named after him. Stephen had attended the festival in 2013. It was one of the things on his "bucket list."
Images for kids
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Stephen at the 2013 UEFA Champions League Final
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A public vigil for Stephen was held at Lichfield Cathedral in Staffordshire
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Stephen's mother Jane (second from right) and members of his family after receiving his MBE in November 2014 at Buckingham Palace
