We mourn for Jackson Byrnes, who left us too soon
A LOT of people on the Northern Rivers will be saddened by the news that Casino teenager Jackson Byrnes has passed away.
You will remember Jackson was the subject of a crowd funding campaign earlier this year to raise money for an operation by Dr Charlie Teo to remove a brain tumour.
The campaign saw this community band together in a way I have never seen before.
Ordinary people, donating $5, $10 or $20 at a time, helped push past the target of $80,000 for the operation in less than four days.
What it did for Jackson and his family was buy precious time with one another.
On behalf of The Northern Star and its staff, many of whom donated to the campaign, I'd like to extend my sympathy to his family and friends.
For the many hundreds of people who donated to this campaign and the thousands of people who have been following this story, the news of Jackson's passing will come as quite a shock.
Many tributes to this brave young man have been flowing in on social media already.
Tumours are not particularly choosy about who they pick
The randomness of it all just doesn't seem fair.
Old people get it, middle aged people get it, but when a teenager or younger child succumbs to it, it's especially heartbreaking.
It's heartbreaking because that young person has not had the same opportunity to live their life like everyone else.
If you would like to send a message of condolence to his family comment under one of our stories.
