BRAVE leukaemia sufferer Alex Wardrope has lost his fight for life.

The 19-year-old died at the weekend, ending his often painful two-year battle against the disease.

Now his mother Joanne has spoken of her sadness but also her relief that her son is "at peace".

Alex, of Sidewood Road, New Eltham, had been seriously ill for the past month at Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup.

He was allowed home for Christmas but spent most of the festive period in his hospital bed.

The former Orpington College student was transferred to King's College Hospital, south London, for further treatment, but died after developing a fungal infection.

Primary school teacher Mrs Wardrope was at her son's bedside during his final hours.

She said: "It was another hurdle for him but he couldn't overcome it this time.

"I sat there and he just closed his eyes and slipped away peacefully.

"We all feel so sad and numb but we also feel calmer knowing Alex is now at peace. The suffering is over for him."

Since September News Shopper has chronicled Alex's fight against acute T-cell lymphoblastic leukaemia, which he developed in January 2004.

Our campaign to find him a donor for a life-saving bone marrow transplant led to more than 100 readers offering their help.

A donor was eventually found and Alex was due to have the transplant in early December but was too ill to undergo the surgery.

Another date had been set for the transplant later this month but tragically his condition continued to deteriorate.

Mrs Wardrope is now facing up to life without the son she battled to save.

She said: "For me it is immensely hard because I was with with him day and night as he fought this. At the moment I feel like a spare part.

"I had no idea leukaemia was such a painful disease but Alex fought it so bravely."

Mrs Wardrope also paid tribute to the "fantastic" efforts of the staff at Queen Mary's who looked after Alex. The family are now preparing to make arrangements for Alex's funeral but say it will not be a sombre affair.

Mrs Wardrope added: "Anyone is welcome to come to the funeral but we don't want people wearing black. It will be a celebration of Alex's life. We cannot mourn him, he was too young."

The funeral will be held on January 18 at All Saints Church, Bercta Road, New Eltham.

Alex is survived by his mother, father Bill and two sisters Lucy, 16, and Megan, 14.

The family are now urging more people to become donors to help the survival chances of others with leukaemia.

  • The Anthony Nolan Trust, which runs the national bone marrow register, says it urgently needs donors aged between 18 and 40. Call 020 7284 1234 or visit anthony nolan.org.uk

News Shopper comment

THREE days before Christmas, I went to visit Alex Wardrope in hospital.

I didn't quite know what to expect. I knew Alex had been ill for the past few weeks and even though he was on the mend, surely he wanted to be surrounded by his friends and family, not some bloke he had never met?

After spending 30 minutes with him I realised I had no need to worry. Alex was one of the nicest people you could ever wish to meet.

I could spout words such as "brave", "heroic" and "inspirational". Alex was certainly all of those things.

However, I get the feeling he would be embarrassed by such accolades.

In truth Alex was "normal", a normal teenage boy being forced to live an abnormal life by this horrific disease.

Alex liked Arsenal and had a huge DVD collection. He even had the odd lad's mag strewn across his hospital room like any other teenager.

He had ambitions too. He wanted to run the London Marathon one day, to raise money for leukaemia charities.

It is this "normality" which makes his death all the more tragic, the realisation this could happen to anyone, however young.

I would urge anyone reading this to put their name on the bone marrow register.

As his mum Joanne Wardrope says, we should celebrate Alex's life but, just as importantly, do all we can to defeat this awful disease.

GLENN EBREY