national treasure

In Great Britain, there's a habit of calling somebody who's very good at what they do, and who captures the general mood at the time, a "national treasure". I would suggest that a genuine national treasure has just left us for a better place.

Liam Fairhurst was diagnosed with cancer aged 10 in 2005, and started fundraising for his fellow sufferers the next year, when his best friend died of the disease. He wasn't able to do a sponsored walk because Synovial Sarcoma precluded this - so he swam. He bothered top-level figures such as Sir Richard Branson and Prime Minister Gordon Brown in his crazy, blessed rush to ensure a future for fellow sufferers that he knew he would never see. To Mr Brown's credit, he kept in touch with Liam, and upon his death said:

Liam was a courageous young man who showed immense bravery in the face of his illness. It was a privilege to meet him - his dedication as a fundraiser was an encouragement to us all and I am very proud of what Liam achieved. His courage will be a continuing inspiration to all those that knew him. My thoughts are with his family at this sad time

Lord, please look with mercy on Your servant Liam. I suspect he has concentrated more people's minds on mortality than I don't know what.

Liam is the bravest boy I can think of. May he rest in peace - or, if it please You, may he be sent to shake us out of our complacency, as he did in life?