Friends plan party to celebrate Sam (From Witney Gazette)

Friends plan party to celebrate Sam

9:00am Wednesday 8th November 2006 in Witney By Rosalind Miles

FRIENDS of a teenager who died of cancer are to throw a party in his honour.

Pals of Sam Foye, who died of nonHodgkin's Lymphoma disease on October 4, are to hold a celebration of his life at Witney Football Club on December 1.

They are starting a memorial fund in his name and aim to give funds to help research into curing the disease.

Sam, of Waites Close, Aston, was 16 when he died. He was a pupil at Henry Box School, although he had not been able to attend school in the months before his death due to his illness.

He loved drum and bass music, and was out clubbing just days before he died.

Lauren Bowles, of Colwell Drive, who was one of Sam's best friends, said: "Sam was such a fun-loving guy, he never let his illness get him down, he always put a brave face on it.

"We threw a party for him when we found out he was terminal, and played drum and bass. He said he wanted us to do the same at his funeral. We did it for his wake, and we were touched that all his family came and wanted to spend time with us.

"We are setting up a memorial fund, not only to do research into the disease but also to take sufferers out on day trips, because that's what Sam liked to do. As soon as he was diagnosed, he went down to Cornwall.

"Sam's death should be a reminder of how precious life is. Young people have got such a bad reputation as yobs, which is totally unfair. We weren't just going to say it's all over now Sam is dead, we have felt how hard it is losing a friend so young and we want to help other people.

"We want to get everyone involved. We don't want it to be just young people at the drum and bass night, we want it to be a family event people can bring their children to. We want it to be a whole age range and just get as many people as possible there."

Pippa Edgington, 33, of Eastfield Road, is a youth worker who is organising the events on behalf of Sam's friends.

She said: "All of Sammy's friends wanted to do something themselves for him. They wanted to set up a memorial fund in his name. Witney Football Club have donated the venue and bar staff for the night and we will have bands playing and a drum and bass DJ.

"We are going to be doing lots for the memorial fund, banger racing, car boot sales, all sorts."

Friend David Hall, 16, of Colwell Drive, said: "He was a lively, fun person. He didn't get a chance to do his GCSEs but was clever. We want to raise the money so we can help people like him in the future. It's important to try to find a cure. About ten or 15 of us, Sam's good friends, are a close group and we want to do something for him.

"We want the party to celebrate his life, to show everything that he is, and that he is still making a difference even when he is not here."

The night of Friday, December 1, will be kicked off at the house of Mick and Sue Lovejoy, in Ducklington, which will be lit up with Christmas lights at 6pm to raise funds for Sam's memorial fund. Sam's parents Valerie and Patrick Foye will switch on the lights.

Tickets for the party are £5 in advance. For more information and to buy a ticket, call Pippa on 07835 317 635.

She would also welcome any ideas for fundraising and has asked for them to be sent to 133 Colwell Drive, Witney, OX28 5MW.