The parents of Neil Sharples, 20, who lost a six-year battle with cancer on 26 August, 2008, described their son as "inspirational".

Mr Sharples, from Holbrook in Derbyshire, was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic system, in December 2002, when he was only 14.

After undergoing chemotherapy, radiation therapy and a stem-cell transplant, he twice went into remission, only for the disease to return a few months later.

During the last two years of his life, he was put on a course of thalidomide and a high dose of steroids but, after contracting pneumonia in July 2008, he died at the Queen's Medical Centre, in Nottingham.

His condition gradually deteriorated throughout his treatment – he often struggled to breathe and damage to both his legs and hips made it difficult for him to walk – but his mother, Helen, said he never gave up.

The chemotherapy caused a lot of other physical problems. He couldn't do anything too strenuous but he learned to cope and you never heard him moan about anything," said Mrs Sharples.

"His hips were damaged from the steroids but he was determined he wasn't going to give in and end up in a wheelchair. He just kept on going.

"When he went into the hospital with pneumonia, the doctors warned us it would be a struggle over the weekend but he amazed them once again.

"He came home and, although he was very poorly, he kept a sense of humour. He said: 'Everyone's giving up around me but I'm not.'"

Mr Sharples and his family moved to Holbrook from Farnborough in 1999. He went to Belper School and, with an A-level in IT under his belt, left when he was 19 to embark on a three-month course with the Prince's Trust, which gives practical and financial support to young people.

His early interests included swimming and cycling but he often dreamed of owning his own haulage company and spent a week on work placement at Nelson Distribution, in Belper.

Inspired by Formula One and the BBC show Top Gear, he drove through Europe on several occasions, recreating the journeys of his heroes Lewis Hamilton and Jeremy Clarkson.

He was also granted the holiday of a lifetime in 2003, when he and his family were sent to Disney World, in Florida, by the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which helps children who have life-threatening illnesses.

Mr Sharples successfully campaigned for the introduction of bedside internet connection at the Queen's Medical Centre and was often involved with the Teenage Cancer Trust, a charity hoping to improve the lives of youngsters with cancer.

"Nothing was impossible with Neil. When he set his heart on something, he'd get there," said his dad, Ian.

"Whatever he wanted or whatever he wished for, he worked hard to get it. He was a remarkable young man.

"He loved being behind the wheel and he was a quiet driving force in people's lives. He was courageous and an inspiration to everyone."

Trevor Harding, head teacher at Belper School, explained how impressed he had been with Mr Sharples’ attitude to life.

He said: "He was always cheerful, conscientious and hard-working. We saw him cope with everything with such remarkable good humour and bounce back every time he was absent."