Yahoo News Mourners wear black and white to pay respects at funeral of Newcastle United fan Kai Heslop
Crowds of mourners wore black and white to pay their respects at the funeral of a young Newcastle United fan who died of cancer.
Kai Heslop was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in 2021 after suffering from pain in his leg and tragically passed away in April at the age of 22. Kai, from South Shields, had underwent chemotherapy and had his left leg amputated before his death.
He was hoping to marry his fiancé Nicole Hughes, 21, at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle and hold a blessing at St James' Park. However, he died in his loving fiancé's arms before they could say their vows.
On Friday, crowds of friends and families attended Kai's funeral at South Shields Crematorium. A loyal Newcastle United fan, Kai's family had requested those attending to wear casual clothing or NUFC shirts, and the occasion was awash with black and white.
Kai's coffin was respectfully brought into the South Tyneside grounds by horse-drawn carriage, with one horse being adorned with a Newcastle United flag. Lord Huron's The Night We Met played as his coffin was taken into the crematorium building, followed on by friends and family.
During the service, mourners were told heart-warming stories about Kai's life, and he was described as a "sensitive, thoughtful, and unselfish" person, who loved stargazing in Northumberland and playing darts with his family.
As well tears, there were also smiles, as tales from his schooldays were told, along with stories about his working life as an industrial cleaner with his dad, Benjamin. He had also worked in a deli with his grandmother and dabbled in scaffolding with a cousin.
Before his death, the Teenage Cancer Trust was helping Kai and Nicole to arrange a wedding at the hospital and a blessing at St James' Park. As a thank you, funds were also being raised for the charity at his funeral.
But when Kai's health deteriorated, he was visited by his uncle Steven, his dad, his grandmother Karen and his sister Nicole. Kai's mum Danielle Lomas, 43, and his fiancé Nicole were with him when he passed away.
The Bone Cancer Research Trust is the leading UK charity dedicated to fighting primary bone cancer. If you would like more information about the different types of primary bone cancer and tumour, visit their website: www.bcrt.org.uk/information. You can also access their free Support & Information Service on 0800 111 4855 or by emailing support@bcrt.org.uk.
