A number of Liverpool landmarks turned green to remember Kirkby's own superhero.
Lee-Joshua Hodgson lost his battle with a rare form of cancer aged four on June 26. Back in 2020, Lee's parents were told his cough was a viral infection, but it did not get any better.
After finding a lump on his knee and told it could be a cyst, the family found themselves in hospital on Christmas Day where scans showed he had stage four metastatic rhabdomyosarcoma alveolar. The disease is an extremely rare and aggressive cancer that forms in soft tissue.
READ MORE: Hundreds line the streets as 'Kirkby's own superman' laid to rest
Since then, the youngster had been to and from hospital, battling the disease after he was given just a five to 10% chance of survival. But his devoted parents refused to give up the fight, and with the community behind them they began to fundraise for private therapy.
Lee went abroad for treatment, but sadly it was unsuccessful and he died in June after a two year battle. To remember Lee, the Royal Liver Building, St George's Hall and the Radio City Tower all turned green.
Earlier today the four-year-old was laid to rest as the whole community came out in force to pay their respects. It was an emotional day for friends and family as they embraced one another and shared their memories of the young boy who touched the hearts of all in Kirkby and beyond.
Even those who did not know the youngster directly, but have been moved by his journey, lined the streets.
One person described the four-year-old as a "lovely lad with a cheeky smile" as another said he was "our very own Superman". Arriving at the family's home address, the horse-drawn hearse was complete with superhero drapes and superhero inspired flowers.
Standing close by were loved ones wearing Lee's favourite colour green or t-shirts with a photograph of the young boy beaming. As the procession was led through the streets of Kirkby, people stopped to pay their respects, before the hearse arrived at St Joseph and St Laurence Church for a moving service.
One person told the ECHO : "Every fundraising event I've been to, he's always been happy and smiling, he never looked down or anything. You'd look at him and his personality and you wouldn't think he was sick.
"He's touched the hearts of the local people, he's a local lad and it's clear to see Kirkby has come to pay their respects. It's so sad, life isn't fair sometimes. My Granddaughter Mya Stuart has dressed up as Elsa several times, she's walking with him today, she's been very upset. Lee loved her."
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