Funeral for Telford schoolboy Khaleel Khan to be held today
The funeral of a 12-year-old Telford schoolboy who died after a battle with leukaemia was being held today.
His funeral cortege was travelling from Woodhouse Crescent and across Church Road opposite his former school Wrockwardine Wood Juniors.
A post by the school said children and staff were to go out onto the pavement outside the gates to watch the procession on the journey to Wellington Cemetery.
Announcing the death his family said: “We are absolutely heartbroken and really never truly thought we would be typing these words.
“Khaleel really did fight as hard as he could and he held on for so long, but enough was enough and he passed away peacefully in his parents’ arms yesterday afternoon.
“His little body had been through so much all these years, especially these last couple of months. He put up an amazing fight and he really really is the strongest young man we know We pray Khaleel is no longer in pain and is safe and happy and at peace. No words can explain how devastated we all feel.”
When he became ill his parents Kelly and Majid were told there was a less than 20 per cent chance of finding a suitable stem cell donor because he was mixed race and they launched a campaign to raise awareness of his plight.
In March two potential donors were found in Germany and in Canada after a global search. Stem cells from the German donor were used, but Khaleel struggled to recover and a rescue transplant using cells from his father was carried out two weeks ago at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
