Stephen Sutton’s mother reunites with namesake elephant after 10 years | News

It’s been a decade since Stephen’s dream of hugging an elephant came true

Stephen Sutton’s mother has been reunited with Sutton the elephant, who was named after the inspirational teenager.

Stephen died of colorectal cancer on 12 May 2014 aged 19 in Burntwood in Staffordshire.

During his battle with cancer, he raised £3m for the Teenage Cancer Trust, a total that has doubled to £6m since his death.

His struggle captured the hearts of the nation when he compiled a list of things he would like to achieve before he dies, including hugging an animal larger than himself.

West Midlands Safari Park reached out to the Sutton family and their dream came true when they got to hug Five the elephant.

“We didn’t realize at the time, Five was actually pregnant,” said Jane, his mother.

Five’s baby elephant was named Sutton in Stephen’s memory.

Ten years later, Jane met Sutton the elephant at Noah’s Ark Zoo in Bristol to mark the anniversary of his death.

“Oh it’s absolutely fantastic to see Sutton again because I met him a month after he was born so he was little then,” said Jane.

“So to come back today and get a chance to see him again and feed him is an amazing experience.”

The visit is part of a series of challenges Jane is undertaking in Stephen’s memory across the country in an effort to raise more money for the Teenage Cancer Trust.

Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm has given Jane the task of shoveling Sutton’s poop – 28 shovels in 28 minutes.

“We had to scratch our heads and come up with a challenge,” said Larry Bush, the zoo’s director.

“Elephants poop a lot and it’s a big part of our lives running the zoo, so we thought we’d do something about it.

“We knew Jane was up for a physical challenge, so we thought we’d make Jane do what our guards do and she did phenomenally well.

“He’s a very fit person and he absolutely destroyed it,” added Larry.

Jane has been fundraising since her son’s death, completing the London Marathon ten times and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.

“For me and my family it’s really helped carry on Stephen’s fundraising legacy,” said Jane, “it’s been so incredible what he’s been able to achieve.”

“I always say that Stephen left me here surrounded by that positivity that he had at the time – that was so important to him and helped him so much throughout his cancer journey.

“So everything we do in Stephen’s memory is a great comfort to us.”

“I think there is something really inspirational about someone like Stephen who chooses to celebrate life,” said Julie Worrall of the Teenage Cancer Trust.

“In the face of something so difficult for him, to take his experience and turn it into a force for good and his commitment to other young people in the same situation as him.

“It bought a real zest for life that stays with us all.”

The poop Jane picks up will be recycled and used as fertilizer in the Noah’s Ark pumpkin patch, which Jane will help harvest later this year.

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