AFTER the death of a much-loved Penarth teenager two online fundraising pages have been set up in his memory.

Following a long battle with a rare brain condition James Elliot died at the age of 19 on February 12.

Friends and family have now set up two online fundraising pages in his memory for two causes close to his heart.

Proceeds from the fundraising campaign will go to a charity that provides art and dance programmes for individuals with autism and complex disabilities, and towards buying equipment for the common room and outdoor gym at the recently opened Ysgol y Deri special school.

His mother Julia Elliot, who has spent the last few months battling breast cancer, said they chose to raise money for the Touch Trust as he would regularly attended sessions with the charity at the Millennium Centre.

“It allows them to express themselves through music, dance and creative art,” she said.

“It was a really positive and highly energetic place.”

She added that his personal carer, Leanne Hopkins, had also set up the James Elliott Foundation as a sub-arm of the Ysgol y Deri special school charity to raise money in his memory. She has also organised a Zumbathon for June 7 and plans many more fundraising events too.

“He loved the sixth form common room and the outdoor and indoor gyms there,” she said.

“The money we raise will go towards buying new equipment for the school.”

She added they would like to buy a jukebox, air hockey table and pool table for the common room, as well as equipment for the outdoor gym.

“His favourite song was Paolo Nutini’s ‘Pocket Full of Lead’ and I’ve got a wonderful image of that playing on repeat on a jukebox in the common room.”

Julia, of Minehead Avenue in Sully, said her son had “a huge zest for life” and left a mark on everyone he met.

“Not a day went past that he wasn’t belly laughing,” she said.

“He brought so much joy and happiness to those around him.

“He was always so positive and had a smile and a laugh with everyone”

She added: “He faced lots of challenges but he enjoyed life to the full. He grabbed every opportunity that came his way. He tried everything from zip wiring to sailing.

“He also had a passion for going to the theatre and seeing musicals and plays. He would always start clapping and the whole audience would join in.

“Through the Make a Wish charity he got to see Amanda Holden performing in Shrek in London, and the Follow Your Dreams charity also arranged for him to meet Mr Tumble.”

During his life James also suffered from a stomach disorder and severe allergies that would cause him to go into anaphylactic shock. Several years ago he also made the national news as “the boy in the bubble” because he was allergic to almost everything around him and doctors feared a bubble would be the only sterile environment where he would be safe.

But after his family moved from Penarth to Sully they found a home that could be adapted to suit his needs.

As a youngster he attended Ysgol Maes Dyfan in Barry, before moving to Ysgol Erw’r Delyn and then Ysgol y Deri in Penarth.

Over the last few months his mother Julia, who gave up her career as a teacher to care for her son, has also been battling breast cancer. In October last year two teachers from Ysgol Erw’r Delyn shaved their heads to show their support for Julia and to raise money for the Breast Cancer Campaign. Julia has now undergone a mastectomy and is currently going through chemotherapy.

James' funeral is set to take place at All Saints Church next week, with the whole community invited to share their memories of the popular youngster. It will start at 3.45pm on Monday, March 9.

The links to the charity collections in his name are www.justgiving.com/In-memory-of-James-Elliot (Touch Trust Ltd) and www.justgiving.com/JamesElliot24 (Ysgol y Deri).