Everton FC-mad schoolboy Jimmy Oliver passes away from cancer

[GrandOldTeam]

Liverpool Echo.co.uk - News - Liverpool Local News - Everton FC-mad schoolboy Jimmy Oliver pases away from cancer

AN EVERTON-mad schoolboy died of cancer on the eve of the Blues’ FA Cup semi-final victory at Wembley.
Jimmy Oliver, 10, travelled to watch the Blues home and away despite a two-year battle with bone cancer.
The Southport schoolboy and his dad Mark had been given complimentary box tickets for the game against Manchester United on Sunday but could not go when his condition worsened.
Dad Mark, 39, a support worker, said Jimmy maintained his support for the Blues in the last weeks of his life.
He said: “He wasn’t able to do the things he wanted to, but still found the strength to go to the Everton games.”
“The last game he went to was when they beat Wigan 4-0 and the day before that he’d backed the winner on the Grand National and won £127.
“They had saved a Wembley ticket for me though and I went down on the coach in the end. I’ve never seen so many grown men in floods of tears when they heard what had happened.”
Jimmy, who had met many of Everton’s players and watched the team train earlier this year, passed away at home surrounded by family on Saturday.
The former Toffees mascot was diagnosed with Metastatic Osteosarcoma in January 2007.
Mum Vicki, 34, said: “He just had a sore leg but we thought it was because he was so sporty.
“It’s something that’s really easy to miss because it just gets put down to growing pains.”
During his illness, the Holy Family pupil from High Park, had one of his legs amputated.
Vicki said: “Raising awareness was so important to him because he didn’t want people to go through what he did.
“When he had his leg amputated he donated it to research.”
Jimmy, who has a brother Will, seven, and sister Rachael, 17, dedicated himself to raising money for The Bone Cancer Trust and auctioned off Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff signed cricket bats after meeting the star at Alder Hey childrens’ hospital.
Vicki, who gave up her job as a supply teacher to care for Jimmy, said: “We want to thank everybody who made his life so special and enabled him to have the experiences he had.
“Jimmy never moaned, even when he had his leg off he did the school sports day five days later on crutches.
He was amazing, I called him the gladiator.”

RIP Jimmy.

 

[Neiler]

Puts everything in perspective and hear we are getting emotional about a game of footy.

R.I.P. Jimmy, my thoughts are with the Oliver family.

So Sad.

 

[Latch]

Posted via Mobile Device Same thought's here Neiler. A very brave boy.

 

[Whitebootman]

So sad, Rest in peace young man. My respects to the family.

 

[ToxtethBlue]

R.I.P

 

[kenada_blue]

Its why we're going to win the FA Cup for that lad.

Choking up at work here lids. RIP.

 

[Gazdalf]

R.I.P Jimmy.

The lads will bring the cup home for you.

 

[little curly alan ball]

One of our own .
R.I.P. lad . You were a credit to your club . May God help your poor Parents to carry on .
Life's fukd up .

 

[Bainsey]

very sad

R.I.P

 

[Les D]

Sad, so very sad.

All condolences to the Oliver family & friends.

 

[Reidy's Bottle Of Grecian]

absolutely awful, poor kid.

Rest In Peace Jimmy.

 

[Nebbiolo]

Hope the family is bearing up. Very sad state of affairs.

 

[chicoazul]

Thats gutting isnt it. Brave, brave lad.

RIP.

 

[Dutch Toffee]

Dying of cancer is always a sad affair. If it's happening to such a young an innocent life it's really heartbreakening. R.I.P. little Jimmy and my sincere condolences to family & friends. What a waste, R.I.P.

 

[Goat]

Another blue lost.

We are so unlucky.

RIP.

My heart goes out to his family, I know myself the pain of losing a child, it really is something you never get over.