'The world will shine less brightly without our son'

The family of a teenager who died of a rare bone cancer has paid tribute to their "cheeky" and "special" boy.

Owen Jenkinson was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma in 2022 after thinking he had pulled a muscle playing football.

The keen Rotherham United supporter underwent months of chemotherapy but died of the disease on 23 November, aged 17. His funeral took place on Saturday.

His parents Andrea and Bill said they had "squeezed so much love" out of the three years the treatment had given them with their son, adding: "We've had a glimpse of the man he should have become."

Owen first complained of pain in his left leg during a bank holiday weekend three years ago, but as he was otherwise fit and active, his mum Andrea said it did not immediately worry her.

However, when the pain did not subside and he struggled to stand, she took him to Rotherham Hospital and after several tests, the family was told it was Ewing sarcoma.

According to the NHS, Ewing sarcoma is most often found in teenagers and young adults, but it can happen at other ages.

At the very beginning, the family asked doctors what would happen without treatment, and they were told their son would only live six to eight weeks.

"We've had three-and-a-half years of Owen and we've seen Owen grow from a child into a young man," his dad Bill said.

"We've had a glimpse of the man he should have become."

The youngster underwent chemotherapy for several months and was told he had to undergo a second round of treatment at Sheffield Children's Hospital in February.

Despite the news, his family said Owen remained positive and determined.

"Yes, there was the sickness and there was lots of other things, but actually Owen just bounced back and never gave in," said Andrea.

On 23 November, he died at home in Rotherham.

In a statement shared by Rotherham United FC following his death, the club said Owen's attitude throughout "an impossibly difficult journey" had moved them all.

It said: "Owen will be remembered as the beacon of hope that the life that he created for himself represented.

"We feel genuinely privileged to have had Owen Jenkinson as a fan of our football club."

On Saturday, his loved ones gathered to bid him farewell.

In a eulogy, shared with the BBC, his father said the world would "shine less brightly" without Owen in their lives.

"Andrea and I will miss our special boy every day and are heartbroken but proud of his impact, it's a testament to the man that he had become with the massive outpouring of love through the messages we have received," he said.

"Owen's light of love shone bright for all to see, he lit up the room with his smile, boombox and dance moves."

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