20-year-old student who beat cancer dies two weeks after flu-like symptoms
Family says Joshua Abbott-Littler died from sepsis linked to treatment-induced leukemia; fundraiser organized in his memory
A 20-year-old student who beat cancer has died two weeks after developing flu-like symptoms. Josh Abbott-Littler, from Wigan, died on June 26 at The Christie cancer hospital in Manchester from sepsis caused by a bacterial infection. He had been diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in 2023 and underwent chemotherapy and proton beam therapy, ringing the bell in May 2024 after completing treatment.
A year after the all-clear, he reported chest pains and was readmitted to The Christie, where he was treated for pneumonia and sepsis. He was later diagnosed with treatment-induced acute myeloid leukaemia, a rare and aggressive form of leukemia triggered by cancer therapies such as chemotherapy or radiation.
His aunt Rebecca Hughes described him as healthy and intelligent, with wide-ranging interests including chess and music. "He was perfectly fit and well, with no symptoms at all. Then this growth came on his neck," she recalled, detailing the Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis. Josh, who studied mathematics at Lancaster University, rang the bell in May 2024 and "we were just elated," she said.
He could not pinpoint what was wrong when illness returned this summer, and his family said the loss has been absolutely devastating. "We were elated. He rang the bell in May 2024 and we were just elated," Ms Hughes added. The family has chosen to honor Josh by raising money for Young Lives vs Cancer, participating in a nine-hour walk from Wigan to Southport. The fundraiser, hosted on Just Giving, has surpassed its original target and collected thousands in his memory, with donors praising Josh as a brilliant big brother who loved gaming, guitar and music.
The fundraiser page notes that Josh was an "intellectual" with a passion for chess and music. He attended Holy Family Primary School and St Edmund Arrowsmith High School, leaving with top grades, and his family said he remained devoted to his studies and interests throughout his life. They hope to establish an annual event to keep his name alive and to support others facing cancer and its aftereffects.