Michael never asked 'Why me?' with cancer he just put it down to bad luck; TRAGEDY: 22-year-old who wanted to join Marines succumbs to bowel cancer.

Byline: Cara Simpson

A YOUNG Coventry man, who dreamed of joining the Royal Marines, has died of cancer at the age of 22.

Michael Whetstone, of Cannon Park, a former headboy at King Henry VIII School, passed away at home on Saturday surrounded by his family.

One of his last wishes was for his funeral to be held at the Warwick Road school.

Michael, who played rugby for the Old Coventrians and Coventry Bears, was diagnosed with bowel cancer four days before his 21st birthday in April last year.

He was studying military history at Kent University and graduated with a 2:1 despite his illness. He had hoped to become an officer in the Royal Marines.

Speaking from the family home in Cannon Hill Road, his mum Teresa, aged 50, said: "Michael wasn't religious, which is why he didn't want his funeral to be in a church. He said the school taught him more about life than religion ever did."

Teresa, a teacher at Cannon Park Primary School, added: "Mike was very strong, physically and mentally. He was a leader all the way through school, where he was head boy and captain of rugby, and also at university where he was captain of rugby and trained hard for the Royal Marines.

"He never said 'Why me?' when he was going through cancer, he just put it down to bad luck, a bad accident."

His dad Neil, owner of Whetstone Jewellers, in Stoke, added: "As a parent sending their child to university, you think setting them up for adult life is the pinnacle of what you've done as a parent.

"So it was an odd reversal when he came back home for us to care for him again. But we valued the last days we had with him, it was his wish to die at home."

He spent two weeks at home before he died - 17 months after his diagnosis - with his family and girlfriend Alicia, aged 23, at his bedside.

When it was found his cancer was terminal, he left the University Hospital and spent a week in the care of staff at Myton Hospice in Warwick before he went home for the last time.

Michael left his Mazda MX5 sports car to his dad, as he want- e d him to sell it to raise funds to take his mum on holiday.

It was an act his family says was typical of Michael, who thought of others even as he faced death.

He also wished for money raised at his funeral to go to the Wooden Spoon charity, a rugby-inspired cause which helps disadvantaged children through sport.

Michael was the grandson of the late Keith Whetstone, a former Coventry Telegraph editor.

His sister Amie, aged 24, brought forward her wedding to husband Hugo by a year to ensure her brother could be an usher.

CAPTION(S):

BRAVE... Michael Whetstone at his graduation. Below, in his rugby kit, one of his favourite sports.