THREE years after his death the family of 22-year-old bone cancer victim Alex Lewis continue to find ways to remember the son and brother they loved.

His parents Andy and Angela Lewis are now trustees of the Bone Cancer Research Trust, which has been holding an awareness week this week.

And sister Emma Parr has given their first grandson the middle name of Alexander in memory of her brother.

The family were this week in The Gower, South Wales, where they had holidayed in the past with Alex and where some of his ashes were scattered.

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He died in February 2011 four years after being diagnosed, but was able to marry girlfriend Alison Strain five days before he died. The wedding featured on BBC Three documentary Alex: A Life Fast Forward, broadcast five months after the ex-Wallingford School pupil’s death.

Mrs Parr, 31, has named her nine-week-old son Isaac Alexander Weston Parr in memory of her brother.

She said: “It is to keep Alex’s memory alive. There are certain points in your life when it becomes poignant, when there are new people in your family. It brings it all up again.”

The Cholsey Primary School teacher said she is proud of her parents’ work with the trust.

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  • Alex Lewis

Mrs Parr, of Didcot, who is married to Martin Parr, said: “If you catch it early your chances of survival are so much higher.”

Mr and Mrs Lewis joined as trustees about 18 months ago and have worked on projects like guidelines to help GPs better spot the condition.

Mr Lewis, 65, said: “It is trying to make something positive out of it.

“If he had survived we would still have been passionate about trying to improve the outcomes of bone cancer sufferers.

“When you have lost somebody I think it is a big driver for us.”

The Brightwell-cum-Sotwell resident said his son – who had a brother called Jamie, 29, suffered arm pain in about August 2006 but GPs suggested it could be a sports injury. He was diagnosed in January 2007.

Mr Lewis said: “I don’t want to be critical of GPs. It is very unfair but it wasn’t spotted early and that is the cause of many people who have a bad outcome.”

He said he draws strength from the good times with a “wonderful lad” adding: “He really crammed into those last 18 months a whole life in a way. You are left with few regrets.”

Mrs Lewis, 56, said of their work: “It is hugely important for us. It is something we feel very strongly about.”

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