Yellow Ribbons For Stephen Sutton

28 May 2014, 13:25 | Updated: 29 May 2014, 06:43

Lichfield City Centre is 'a sea of yellow' ahead of a vigil being held for Stephen Sutton on Thursday.

Local shops and homes in the City as well as Stephen's home town Burntwood are displaying yellow ribbons to celebrate the teenager's life.

Nineteen-year-old Stephen Sutton lost his battle with bowel cancer after raising nearly 4 million pounds for the Teenage Cancer Trust after getting backing from celebrities like Jason Manford, Russell Brand and John Bishop.

Stephen's mum Jane Sutton said: "The continued love and support for Stephen is wonderful and a great comfort. I want people to have the chance to come and pay their respects to Stephen. It is important that the vigil at Lichfield Cathedral has an opening and a public farewell. So I invite people especially to come and be part of these two moments and remember Stephen. Stephen wanted to put the fun in funeral, so don't feel you need to wear black. It's a celebration of his life and achievements."

There will be a short opening ceremony at the cathedral at 7pm on Thursday, and a public farewell ceremony at 3pm on Friday. All are welcome to attend. At 3.45pm on Friday Stephen's coffin will exit the Close and leave Lichfield for a private family funeral. The Cathedral will remain open until midnight on Thursday for people to their respects and will reopen at 7am on Friday.

If you can't make it, remember to take a moment at 11am on Friday morning to give a Thumbs up for Stephen. This could be via the thunderclap.it #ThumbsupforStephen, or you could give the thumbs up to a stranger, have a cup of tea and a slice of cake, think a positive thought, clap, cheer, or even perform a random act a kindness. Do something that makes you and others happy in Stephen's memory.'