He was only 12 when he died, but Neehari Robinson has left behind a legacy worthy of someone who had lived to be 100.

That was the sentiment of his father Otis Robinson as he spoke about his son, who was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cancer two years ago.

The Robinson family has been touched by the support and kind words they have received, particularly from Neehari’s school friends and teachers.

Mr Robinson said: “The people at his school all had great things to say about him, and the kids and others in the community have been coming by and giving us support since the day he passed.”

He said the outpouring of support appeared to be a testament to the way Neehari had touched the lives of others.

“He was so thankful and respectful.

“Even through his illness he was always caring for others along the way.”

Neehari was diagnosed with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, a cancer of the connective tissue, in 2013. He underwent intensive chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment and enjoyed a brief remission last summer before relapsing. In February, Mr Robinson and his wife Shakira started an online appeal to raise funds to send their son to an alternative therapy centre in Spain. The response exceeded their expectations. Thousands of dollars were donated, and even though Neehari’s condition eventually made it impractical for him to be flown to Spain, plans were being made for alternative transport arrangements.

The family want to thank everyone who had contributed to the appeal, and they believe their son’s quality of life was improved as a result.

Neehari, who died on June 10, showed a flair for learning and came top of his class at primary school shortly before he was taken ill.

As a youngster he attended Southampton Pre-School and Southampton Glebe (now the Dalton E Tucker Primary School) before the family moved to Birmingham, England in 2010.

“He was educating me all the way,” said Mr Robinson, recalling how his son would return from school and explain things he had learnt that day.

A passionate supporter of Liverpool Football Club, Neehari showed promise as a sportsman, playing on football and cricket teams at school.

“He was an all-round sportsman, and he was gifted. He never got to do track or running, but I’m sure he would have been a hundred times better than me,” said Mr Robinson, a former president of Swan’s Running Club.

Neehari had ambitions to be a chef. He also showed a remarkable level of empathy for others, said his father.

“He wanted to help everyone. He brought all the love into the house and he was a peacemaker — a really special lad.

“He touched the lives of so many people along the way, from Bermuda to the US, the UK and Jamaica. He had so much love and brought so many people together.

“I want to live my life following in his footsteps.”

One of Neehari’s favourite places in Bermuda was Horseshoe Beach. An image of the beach will be featured on his coffin and in the memorial booklet, together with a Bermuda flag, at the funeral service in Birmingham on Thursday. Team-mates who played alongside Neehari at school will give a salute to the youngster at the service.

In Bermuda, friends of the Robinson family will hold a memorial gathering and a release of doves in Victoria Park, Hamilton, to coincide with the funeral service in the UK.

The Robinson family said they noticed doves appearing near their home in Birmingham following Neehari’s death.

For those wishing to attend, the gathering in Victoria Park will begin at 10.15am on Thursday.