Brave Jamie loses brain cancer battle

A TEENAGER whose brave battle with inoperable brain cancer inspired his brother to write a moving tribute song has lost his fight for life.

Jamie Fitzsimmons, 19, had struggled against cancer for nearly five years. The disease spread from his bowel to his stomach and eventually formed tumours deep in his brain.

His plight prompted his musician sibling Rory to pen a poignant song, entitled Brother, which reflected their close relationship and the teenager's determination.

The song was recorded by Rory's band Black Cherokee and released as a charity single before becoming the highlight of an emotionally-charged fundraising gig in January in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust (TCT).

Despite knowing he had only months left to life Jamie left his sick bed to attend the gig, defying constant pain to stand on stage and accept the crowd's applause.

• Listen to Brother by Black Cherokee on www.myspace.com/blackcherokeeband

Jamie died at St Columba's Hospice in Boswall Road last Thursday. Today, on the eve of his funeral, his brother Rory, 21, pledged to keep his memory alive by continuing to raise money in his name for the cancer charity.

He said: "He was incredibly brave, he knew what was going to happen, but I only saw him in tears once over it, and that was when I played him the song and said that it was for him."

Jamie was 14 when he fell ill. Major surgery revealed a tumour in his bowel but hopes he had beaten cancer faded when it spread to his lungs and then, more recently, to his brain.

Jamie was being treated at the TCT's special unit at the Sick Kids' Hospital in January when he spoke movingly of his condition: "Having this, you're forced to mature a lot faster than everyone else. You look at what other people your age are doing - like taking drugs or messing about - and you think 'why do that to your life?'," he said. "It's not worth it."

Jamie lived at Craigmount Brae, Corstorphine, with parents John, 55, an engineer, and Donna, brother Rory and sister Ellis, 12.

A service which Jamie had helped plan will be held at Mortonhall Crematorium tomorrow at 10am. Music will include the recording of Brother. Later, his ashes will be scattered in Glen Nevis.