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Teen plans 'best send off' for terminally ill dad

Jim ScottIn Ferryhill
Handout Paul Fairless, left, is in a hospital bed. He is wearing a grey jumper and is smiling. He is laying next to his son, Charlie, who is wearing a beige coloured tracksuit with the words POLO printed in white. Both are showing a thumbs up to the camera.Handout
The efforts of Paul Fairless' son Charlie have attracted the attention Sunderland players

A teenager is raising funds to pay for a funeral for his terminally father and give him the "send off he deserves".

Sunderland fan Paul Fairless, 63, from Ferryhill, County Durham, was diagnosed with stage two pancreatic cancer last April, but was later told by medics it had spread.

His 15-year-old son Charlie said he did not want his father to "deal with the pain" by worrying about the several thousands pounds the family could have to bear.

He hopes to arrange the ceremony locally and make funeral arrangements while his father is still alive so he can respect his wishes, he said.

"I knew I would have to do something - it's your dad, you only get one in your life," Charlie told the BBC.

"[Before he became ill] he was such a down to earth person, a massive football fan, and would always teach me the ways of life.

"He was just class really."

BBC/Jim Scott Julie Ann Fairless, left, and is wearing a white top with a flower pattern. She is sitting on a grey coloured sofa next to her son, Charlie, who she has her arm round. Charlie is wearing a black shirt and is smiling.BBC/Jim Scott
Julie Ann Fairless said she was very proud of her son for his strength

Paul was diagnosed after complaining of severe stomach pains, prompting his family to call 999.

He was initially told his cancer could be treated with several rounds of chemotherapy but, in April this year, medics discovered it was no longer curable.

Charlie, who found out about the diagnosis on his birthday, said: "He was going to ring the bell and be cancer free, but it didn't work out that way.

"He rang me crying, and he found out he was in the very late stages and all they could do is make it comfortable for him."

Handout Paul Fairless sits on a grey sofa and is holding up a blanket. The blanket is made up of various Sunderland football shirts stitched together. Handout
Paul has been a Sunderland fan for more than 50 years

Charlie said he was determined overcome the family's financial pressures to help deal with the funeral, but also lift his father's spirits where he could.

Earlier this year, to his surprise, he attracted the attention of Sunderland players.

"I got a message from one of the players, Chris Rigg, and I couldn't believe it."

Charlie's mother Julie Ann Fairless said her partner was "over the moon" and "he's proud of Charlie for what he has done".

She said: "It's been four years since I planned my dad's funeral and now planning another funeral, maybe this year, next year, the year after - no one knows when he will go.

"We're taking it day by day. It's hard."

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