Friends chant Jak’s name at emotional prom night

Jak Trueman and girifriend Hannah Boyd before the prom. Picture: contributed

Jak Trueman was only able to stay at the event at Livingston stadium for ten minutes before having to go home because he felt so unwell.

Football-mad Jak, 15, has battled a rare form of blood cancer since August, but he was told last week that his condition was untreatable.

A Facebook page charting “Jak’s Journey” helped to raise nearly £30,000 for the Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research charity in just a few days.

Family and friends rallied around the West Calder High pupil to organise a prom and name he and his girlfriend Hannah Boyd prom king and queen.

Despite feeling weak, he was determined to go to the event – but had to be taken home just minutes after he arrived.

He had been due to collect his Bronze Duke of Edinburgh award – granted to him by the school as he had completed all the work apart from the final expedition – and also the Kerry MacGregor Memorial Trophy for overcoming adversity.

Pupils shouted “There’s only one Jak Trueman” throughout the evening to show their support for the brave teenager.

Jak had been “up and down” throughout Saturday night, however he posted online yesterday morning: “I would just like to make a massive apology for me only turning up and then having to go again. I was gutted and really sad as I never spoke to anyone, but I took really unwell really quickly as I had been lying in bed for three days without hardly moving. Thank you to everyone who organised it and came along, even just knowing it was all happening for me makes me smile.”

His words attracted hundreds of supportive comments from people who have been touched by his fight.

Angela Haston wrote: “You have nothing to apologise for Jak, your classmates all made the night your night even though you had to go home. My son came home very emotional and said he is so proud to have you as a friend and the song ‘there’s only one Jak Trueman’ rung round the hall. You’re a huge inspiration to all, keep fighting and stay strong, from my family to yours.”

Jak’s mum Alison Barr said: “I am one exceptionally proud mummy, but also a very grateful and proud parent of the wonderful and amazing staff and pupils of West Calder High School for their outstanding effort to make a very special night for my beautiful boy Jak and his princess Hannah.”

Jak, a Rangers fan, achieved a lifelong dream in getting his own quad bike last week.

He managed to go for a short trip around a field on it yesterday morning, but opted not to go to the Old Firm match at Hampden, where supporters had organised a chant in his honour.

A charity football match featuring Old Firm legends will also be held at Livingston stadium in Jak’s honour this weekend.