IT was a story that touched almost every person in the community.

A story of a boy who never let the word cancer get in his way.

For those who knew Jaxon Cooper, you may have heard him say “stuff you cancer”.

That’s exactly what the brave 11-year-old did right up until the end.

Sadly, Jaxon lost his battle with an inoperable brainstem tumour on Friday night after bravely fighting for his life since he was diagnosed last year.

Jaxon’s family, who hail from Bendigo but have been living in Ballarat the past six years, shared a message to the local community who have followed Jaxon’s incredible journey on Saturday morning, saying “Last night, surrounded by family Jaxon slipped away. He is now free to run, play and talk. 

He was only here with us for such a short time, but has taught us so much. He has done more than most adults have done on their lifetime. 

Jaxon has shown us to live each day and treasure every moment and that you can achieve anything you put your mind to.

In his honor make today and everyday count.”

Over the weekend hundreds of tributes flooded in for Jaxon who inspired an entire community to remember just how precious the gift of life is.

But no one is more proud of Jaxon and his journey than his family.

Jaxon’s mother, Jodie Cooper said she will always remember her little star as the cheeky boy who wanted nothing more than to beat cancer and ensure other children would never be faced with the same terrifying reality he experienced.

“He was an average kid, but wanted to beat cancer and was determined to help others and make sure other kids didn’t go through the same thing,” she said.

“He was always positive and wanted to get the best out of life.

“He had an ability to always make us laugh and he was always full of energy.”

Despite being told he had less than 12 months to live after doctors found the inoperable tumour, Jaxon continued to defy all the odds to make a difference.

He made himself a mission to prove he could complete his bucket list of everything he would like to achieve.

“We started the bucket list as a little thing to help him and us,” Jodie said.

“How big it got was amazing.”

Thanks to the community’s generosity, Jaxon flew to America last year to watch his favourite NBA team, the New York Knicks.

“When we watched the Knicks, he turned around – it was like he couldn’t talk – and said ‘that was the best night ever’,” his mother said.

Jaxon also explored the Great Barrier Reef, watched his parents get married in Cairns, met the players from Melbourne United and this year went back to school.

But it was his meeting with former Prime Minister Tony Abbott, where he stood tall and advocated for funding for medical research into brain cancer and, ultimately, his goal to find a cure that really left a imprint on the entire nation.

“We are extremely proud. Even through his bucket list he wanted to do things that would help others,” Jodie said.

“It shows us, even as an adult, that ‘you can get on with it’. His determination to be who he could be is something I will never forget.”

But Jaxon and everything he has achieved for brain cancer will never be forgotten.

“We made him a promise to raise awareness for children’s brain cancer and help find a cure,” Jodie said.

Hundreds of tributes have flooded into the Jaxon’s Journey Facebook page with many people commenting on the how ‘extraordinary’ Jaxon was.

“Jax you have taught us all so much along the way,” one message read.