Taylor was a young man that would light up a room, and it was an honour to be part of his life. I wanted to take the time to tell you about Taylor and what he went through. It’s tough to write and share but this was his reality, and why I want to do all I can to raise Money for Bone Cancer Research.

Taylor was my nephew, he was a ball of energy when he was in his early years. He was full of life and enthusiasm, and always ready to explore with a sense of curiosity and adventure. He was very confident and in later years we learned how resilient he really was. Taylor grew and became the cheeky lovable chap that we all remember, he had many friends and was loved by many.

Sadly, just as he started his new chapter at secondary school his troubles began. In September 2015 Taylor started complaining of a pain in his leg and by November of that year our worst fears had come true. He was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma a rare form of bone cancer.

Taylor started his first round of chemotherapy just after his 12th Birthday. TB (as I call him) took everything in his stride, he had 5 rounds of chemotherapy followed by his first operation, this was to remove 22cm of infected bone and replaced with a metal prosthesis. After this TB had to learn to walk again, he had months of physio alongside more chemo which eventually came to an end 9 months later in the summer of 2016.

As a family we saw Taylor shine in the next 18 months, leaving him free and feeling like any teenager should. He was still full of his cheeky ways and would always make us smile, and he was never short of a story to tell you, but sadly things didn’t stay this way.

In May 2017 Taylor went with his Mum, Dad and sister, on a dream holiday to Florida, memories that will last a lifetime. Unfortunately, in October 2017 a routine scan showed the cancer had returned, this time it was in his lungs. Taylor was always so positive he never let it get him down, he never complained he never asked why, he just got on with treatments telling us all 'I have beaten it before, I will do it again'. He went in for his first lung operation where they removed multiple pieces of cancer. He did well in his recovery and for a while thing's seemed well again. However, another routine scan showed more growth in his lungs. More Chemo followed a different type this time along with a 2nd lung operation to try and remove the growing cancer. Again, TB seemed well for a while but in the summer of 2019 Taylor’s knee began to swell and after another biopsy it was confirmed the cancer had returned once again, it felt like this boy could not catch a break.

At this time, we were told that things did not look good, Taylors options were limited but no one focused on that, and it was decided that Taylor needed a full knee replacement alongside a new prosthesis in his leg to replace his old one. His operation followed and lasted 8 hours where they replaced his infected knee and tried to remove as much cancer cells as possible. Living with crutches more physio and learning to walk again.

More chemo followed, only to then find out that the cancer had spread to his arm. Taylor went through more rounds of chemo, and another operation to remove this shoulder joint. Never moaning, he just took it all and carried on as normal as he could. After a bad set of scans, where it showed the cancer growing in his lungs once again, Taylor was offered a drugs trial in London for immunotherapy. Taylor and his dad Andrew would make the weekly trips to London. The family had such high hopes for this treatment, but more bad news was to follow, after his first scan after the new treatment we were told the cancer was growing again.

Those two years seemed like bad news after bad news, but Taylor never gave up never felt sorry for himself and definitely never lost his spirit.

As a last try he was offered one more trial, this time he could take the drugs from home. Unfortunately, this drug was very hard on Taylor’s body, he just couldn’t function and what would have been the toughest decision of their lives, Lea and Andrew, along with Taylor decided he had, had enough, and treatment was to stop. I will never forget the day I took a call from my sister to tell me he only had a few months left with us.

With the help of Helen and Douglas House, Taylor spent his last few months, making amazing memory’s and having as much fun as he could. In Taylor style he did this to the fullest. He spent lots of time with family and friends and enjoyed everything he possibly could.

Taylor passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family on the 22nd July 2021, at just 17 years old.

Cancer has left so much hurt in our lives. I see the pain and scars in us all, and often in my own children, and I can honestly say there isn’t a day gone by when I haven’t thought of him.

Lea and Andrew lost their son, Lola lost her brother, Holly and Charlie lost their older cousin Graham and Judy lost their first grandchild and Scott and I lost our nephew, a hurt and darkness that will never leave any of us.

Words can’t express how much we all miss Taylor. So, I am taking on the Challenge to run the London Marathon 2026, in memory of TB. I want to raise as much money as I can for this amazing charity, so no other children or families have to go through what we have, every 10 minutes somewhere another child, teenager or adult is diagnosed with this brutal disease, and they face a 5-year chance of survival at little over 50%. This drops even further if the disease is discovered late and has already progressed.

In Memory of Taylor Benfield, the brightest star in the sky. We love you Bud xxx