The funeral of a teenager who won the hearts of the people of Bolton will take place this month and will be exactly how he had planned it.

Rhys Williams died at the age of 18 just days before Christmas after suffering from a lifelong skin condition epidermolysis bullosa (EB) causing agonising sores over his body.

The teenager was not expected to live past 10 but celebrated his birthday with heaps of cards sent to his home every year.

Rhys developed sepsis and pneumonia before his death on December 22.

His funeral will take place on January 17 and will pay homage to the teenager’s love for Liverpool FC, complete with a special red hearse, and family dressed in Liverpool shirts.

The Bolton News: Luis Suarez and Rhys Williams

Mum, Tanya Moores said: “I am feeling stressed because I want it to be perfect.

“It is going to be exactly what he wanted with a special hearse.

“Back in 2019 we talked about it as he was trying to give up the fight back then so he asked if I could write some things down.

“He wanted butterflies to be released but we are struggling to get them so it will be butterfly balloons instead.”

The funeral procession will leave Whalley Avenue in Johnson Fold at 10am, reaching Bolton Parish Church at 11am, followed by a private service at Overdale.

The service from Overdale will be live screened.

The Bolton News: Rhys Williams

People wanting to join the procession can join at Montserrat Road or Chorley Old Road.

Bikes will also be part of the procession as Rhys loved them.

Tanya said: “I am feeling lost, stressed, and emotional – all the things you feel when you lose your son.

“There are days where I just do not want to do anything at all, but I have to try to keep things normal to stop myself from going under.

“If I stop, I will not be able to get back up.”

Tanya wants the funeral to go as planned and as perfectly as possible so Rhys can have the send-off he deserves.

She said: “I am one of those people that puts on a brave face but when I am on my own, that’s when I tend to break.

“Because everyone around me is going through something and it’s not fair to put my grief on them.

“I am scared that it will not as I have planned it, and I cannot say I have given Rhys a good send-off until I have given him a good send-off.”

A Go Fund Me page has been set up to help the family as they go through this devastating loss.

(https://www.gofundme.com/f/rhys-the-eb-fighter)